Alaska Association of Fire & Arson Investigators
Board of Directors
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The Board of Directors constitutes the main contributing body for the association.  These men and women work extremely hard to promote the education and evolution of the Alaskan Fire Investigator.

SOUTHCENTRAL

Don Cuthbert:  Started his fire service in 1979 as a career fire fighter in Central New Jersey.  Retired in 2001 and came to Alaska where he worked for the State Fire Marshal's Office until 2007.  He currently serves as a Code Official and responding fire fighter for the Central Mat-Su Fire Department.  Don maintains certifications as a Fire Inspector II, Building Plans Examiner, Mechanical Inspector, Fire Service Instructor I, NAFI CFEI and CFII.  He has an Associates Degree in Fire Science from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and currently teachs Fire Investigation for the Fire Science curriculum at the university.  He has been investigating fires since 1988. 

Kevin Hunter:  Kevin started his fire service career in the United States Air Force, and has over 11 years of cumulative fire service experience.  After eight years at various locations around the globe he returned to Alaska to stay.  He currently serves the people of Alaska as a Deputy Fire Marshal based out of the Anchorage Headquarters of the State Fire Marshal's Office.  Kevin holds certifications in every aspect of the fire profession: Firefighter II, Fire Officer II, Fire Inspector II, Fire Instructor I, Hazardous Materials Technician, among many others.  He also is a certified Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), and is currently working towards his Certified Fire Investigator (CFI). 

SOUTHEAST

Robert Plumb:  Bob started his fire service experience in Alaska when he joined the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department in 1984.  He served as President of the Alaska State Fire Fighters Association from 1992 to 1994.  In 2000, Bob left the city of Cordova to take a job as a Deputy Fire Marshal with the the State Fire Marshal's Office where he has been assigned to the Juneau office since 2001.  Over the years he has attended numerous classes around the state and at the National Fire Academy.  Bob has been a member of AAFAI and IAAI since 2001 and in 2010 recieved his IAAI CFI certification.

Dave Swearingen:  Dave joined the Sitka Fire Department in June of 1983 as a volunteer firefighter.  He was hired as a career engineer in 1986 and moved into the position of Assistant Fire Chief in 1988.  He has been investigating fires for the Sitka Fire Department for the past 20 years, becoming a Certified Fire Investigator with the State of Alaska in 2000.  He is a life-member with the Alaska Association of Fire/Arson Investigators, while serving on the Ways and Means Committee for AAFAI.  he is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Assocation of Fire Investigators.

INTERIOR

Stan Swetzof:  Stan was born in Anchorage, raised on the Aleutian Chain Island of Atka.  After he graduated High school, he moved to Unalaska.  Stan started his public safety service as a Municipal Corrections Officer in August of 1995.  He started volunteering as a Firefighter in January of 2006.  He volunteered for about 3yrs and quit in 2000 after becoming a Police Officer.  Ron began to work for the North Pole Police Department as a Patrol Officer in May of 2007, and was promoted to Detective in March 2008.  He began to volunteer with the North Pole Fire Department in the Fall of 2008, and was allowed to enter the Firefighter 1 Academy, where he graduated and received his State FF1 certificate.  He is currently working towards his Associates Degree in Fire Science through Columbia Southern University.

Ron Templeton:  Ron is currently the Deputy Fire Marshal for the Fairbanks Fire Department.  He began his fire service career in 1991 as a volunteer with the Northstar Volunteer Fire Department and moved into a career position with the department in May of 1992.  In 1995 he transitioned into the Federal Fire Service at Fort Wainwright, Alaska and worked in various positions throughout his 10 year tenure there.  He was then hired by the University Fire Department as a Captain and while there he transitioned into the Prevention Division as the Deputy Fire Marshal.  After serving as the DFM for the University Fire Department for 18 months he was selected for the Deputy Fire Marshal position at Fairbanks Fire Department.  He holds certifications as Firefighter II, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, and Fire Officer.  He is currently working on his Certified Fire Investigator (CFI).

A.A.F.A.I.