The Board of Directors is a body of elected members who jointly oversee the activities of the A.A.F.A.I. The efforts of these members promote the training and education of fire investigation professionals across the State of Alaska.
SOUTHCENTRAL
Edward Athey, Anchorage Fire Department
Mr. Athey currently works for the Anchorage Fire Department and a Deputy Fire Marshal. He has been extremely busy and has not had any time to provide an in-depth bio of his many years of emergency services and fire investigation related duties. We are hoping he will find a few minutes in his extremely busy day to provide our membership with updated information.
Justin Pederson, Lead Fire Inspector at JBER
Justin started his career in September 2001 at Shaw Air Force Base (South Carolina) Since starting his career he has been assigned to Eielson Air Force Base, McChord (Washington), Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Whiteman (Missouri). He retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service and during that time he served in almost every position in the department to include Battalion Chief, Health and Safety Officer, and Deputy Fire Chief.
Justin is currently the Lead Fire Inspector at JBER where he manages the fire investigation program. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and is currently a member both the AAFAI and IAAI.
His certifications include:
IAAI FIT, Fire Officer III, Fire Inspector III, Fire Instructor III, Drier Operator Series, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Technician, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, Telecommunicator II, Rescue Technician II.
SOUTHEAST
Theresa Ross, Capital City Fire/Rescue
I’ve been part of Alaska’s fire service for over 20 years, In 1992 I joined as a volunteer with Glacier Volunteer Fire Department in Juneau for several years, I then moved to Fairbanks to attend UAF where I was a member of the Steese Area Volunteer Fire Department, after graduating I returned to Juneau and joined the Auke Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
I started my professional career as a Deputy Fire Marshal with the State of Alaska, in Juneau, then moved to Anchorage as a Deputy Fire Marshal. I promoted to Fairbanks as a Deputy Fire Marshal II. In 2003 I was hired on as a Deputy Fire Marshal at University Fire Department and then promoted to Fire Marshal. I currently serve as Fire Marshal with Capital City Fire/Rescue.
Her certifications include:
I’m a Certified Fire Investigator and hold an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on fire prevention, code enforcement, and investigative work, always striving to make our communities safer and more resilient.
Gretchen O’Sullivan, Ketchikan Fire Department
Gretchen started as a Volunteer EMT at the Ketchikan Fire Department in 1993 and now has full time career as a Senior Fire Medic with that department. She has over 26 years of experience in fire and emergency services. She received her Associates in Applied Science-Paramedicine from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2015. She earned her AK-CFI and her IAAI-FIT in June of 2017 and joined the Ketchikan Fire Investigation Task Force. She is a member of AAFAI and IAAI.
Her certifications include:
Alaska Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI-Fire Investigation Technician, NREMT-P, IFSAC Firefighter II, IFSAC Hazardous Materials Technician, Emergency Medical Tech Multi-level Instructor, IFSAC Fire Officer I, II, Pro Board Fire Officer III, IFSAC Fire Service Instructor II, Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor.
INTERIOR
Ernie Misewicz, Salcha Fire & Rescue
Is currently the Fire Chief. Ernie is a CFEI (Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator) with the National Association of Fire Investigators. He is a founding member of the Alaska Association of Fire & Arson Investigators. He also was part of the group who established the Certified Fire Investigator Program in Alaska. Originally from Northwest Indiana (just outside Chicago), he started his emergency services career in 1973 with the US Army Fire Department at Ft. Rucker (Alabama) before being assigned to Alaska US Army Garrison Fire Department at Ft. Wainwright. Since starting his career, he has worked for the military fire department, US BLM, Department of Defense Fire Protection, US Air Force Fire Protection, Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office, North Star Volunteer Fire Department, the City of Fairbanks Fire Department and now Salcha Fire & Rescue. He is (since 1984) an adjunct instructor with the University of Alaska CTC (Community & Technical College) in the Fire Science Program. His passion is fire prevention and has been a strong advocate of residential fire sprinklers as well as fire safety education. He is an NFPA LNTB and RISK Watch Champion and has worked to implement and been part of various fire and life safety education programs both locally and statewide. His vision is … Looking to the future…a Fire Free Alaska.
Sergio Lattanzi, Fire Inspector
Sergio grew up in Maryland joining the Fire Service at age 18 in April 2001. He worked for several departments around Maryland while pursuing a B.S. in Fire Science at The University of Maryland, University College (now University of Maryland Global College) graduating in 2007. While pursuing this degree he developed an interest in Fire Investigation, learning from experienced investigators in his departments Sergio has worked in contract Firefighter jobs in Antarctica and Kwajalein Atoll (Marshal Islands) before being hired by the DoD and transferring to Fort Wainwright in January 2022 as a Fire Inspector. In 2023, he joined the AAFAI while taking the initial certification course at their annual conference.
In his off time, Sergio enjoys being outdoors and traveling both inside and outside Alaska. He has visited 35 states in the U.S. and 5 of 7 Continents while Swimming in 4 of the 5 Oceans.
Member At-Large
Dawn Dodsworth, Ph.D., ATF ASAC/CFI
Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC)/Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) Dawn Dodsworth has been with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) since 2008. She has been in the ATF Certified Fire Investigator program since 2012 and has served in that capacity in the Boston, Louisville, and Seattle Field Divisions. She is also an International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) certified CFI. Prior to her promotion in 2021, she was a member of the ATF National Response Team (NRT) and the ATF International Response Team (IRT). She currently serves as the ASAC for Seattle Field Division supervising all ATF criminal enforcement groups in western Washington, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), division-wide field intelligence assets, and daily division operations. She previously served as the group supervisor for all arson and explosives assets within the Seattle Field Division. She has also served as the ATF Seattle Division Response Team Commander; responding to, assessing, and managing large, complex fire/explosion/mass casualty incidents located within the ATF Seattle Field Division Area of Responsibility (which includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam). Dr. Dodsworth sat on the IAAI Board of Directors – West Virginia Chapter and currently serves on the IAAI Board of Directors – Washington Chapter and Alaska Chapter. She also is a member of the NFPA 1030 Technical Committee. Dr. Dodsworth served as a structural firefighter for 10 years and a wildland firefighter for 15 years in the State of New Jersey. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Forensic Sciences from Oklahoma State University, where she also serves as an adjunct faculty member. She also has a Master of Leadership and Public Administration from Centenary University.