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
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.
Jen Tulare, Anchorage Fire Department
Jen started her career in public safety as a law enforcement officer with the U.S. Air Force. She has been a member of the Anchorage Fire Department since 2001 and now serves as a Fire Investigator for them. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration.
She is a member of AAFAI and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Southcentral Region of Alaska.
Her certifications include:
Alaska Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI-Fire Investigation Technician, Fire Inspector and Fire Plans Reviewer.
SOUTHEAST
Dan Jager, Capital City Fire & Rescue
Dan has been a Southeast Board Member for the association since 2014. He has over 27 years of fire service experience with over 15 years in fire/arson investigation work. Dan has an associate’s degree in Fire Science through University of Alaska Fairbanks and is completing a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration through Columbia Southern University.
Dan has worked for the City of Cordova Vol. Fire Dept., North Star Vol. Fire Dept. in North Pole, Alaska, Alyeska Marine Terminal in Valdez, Alaska, Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office, Capital City Fire Rescue in Juneau, Alaska and CASE Forensics/Jensen Hughes. He has conducted fire investigations throughout Alaska, Washington state and Idaho and has testified as an expert witness in fire cases in the Alaska Court System. Dan has been with Capital City Fire Rescue since 2005 and has been the fire marshal since 2008. He has over 2,400 hours of fire investigation field work and over 900 hours of fire investigation training both as a student and instructor.
His certifications include:
IFSAC Firefighter II, ICC Fire Inspector II, Fire Officer I, Fire Service Instructor and EMT. He is an IAAI Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI Certified Instructor and NAFI Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program and has designations as Fire Marshal and Chief Fire Officer through the Commission on Professional Credentialing.
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.
Rikk Matteson, Eielson AFB Fire Department
Rikk Matteson is a native of Spokane Washington; however, after joining the United Stated Air Force in 1996 he has lived throughout the world. Rikk served in the Air Force as a firefighter for 20 years, retiring in 2016.
During his tenure he served in every position from firefighter to a Regional Fire Chief. Since his retirement, he accepted a position as an Assistance Chief with Eielson Fire Emergency Services. He has been an Alaskan resident for 22 years and currently lives in North Pole with his wife and 5 sons.
Rikk took advantage of the military educational benefits completing numerous fire and medical certifications and 3 college degrees. He received his AKCFI in 2016 and currently a member of AAFAI and IAAI.
His certifications include:
IFSAC Certifications: Fire Officer IV, Fire Inspector III, Fire Service Instructor III, Driver Operator Series, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Technician, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Fire and Life Safety Educator II, Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, Plans Examiner I, Telecommunicator II, Rescue Technician.
Credentials: Alaska EMT, Alaska Certified Fire Investigator, Alaska Fire Investigation Technician, Department of Defense Incident Commander, NIMS 100-800, Rescue Diver