Fire Technology
Program Director & Faculty
Program Director / Academy Commander
Chief Stephen Shull (909) 274-5279 sshull@mtsac.edu
Chief Shull is the Director of Fire Technology. As the Director he oversees the Fire Technology Department and serves as the Academy Commander for Mt. SAC’s regional fire academy. His fire service career began in February of 1975 as an Apprentice Firefighter with the City of Montclair. He promoted through the ranks and after 31 ½ years retired at the rank of Division Chief in Operations and Training. Some of his major accomplishments were the establishment of a probationary firefighter training program, the establishment of a fire department paramedic program and being a major participant in the department’s apparatus development committee. Chief Shull’s formal education includes a Master’s Degree in Fire Administration Services from Cal State Long Beach, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Southern Illinois University and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technology from Mt. San Antonio College.
Assistant Academy Commander
Chief Jamie Hirsch (909) 274- 5834 jhirsch3@mtsac.edu
Attended Santa Ana Fire Department Academy and was hired as their first female firefighter in 1981.
Graduated from Paramedic School at UC Irvine in 1984 and shortly thereafter went to work for Anaheim Fire department as a Firefighter/Paramedic.Was a member of Anaheim Fire’s Hazardous Materials Response Team.Served as the Deputy Fire Marshal in the Environmental Protection Unit.Promoted to Fire Captain in 1998, Battalion Chief in 2005, and Deputy Chief in 2010. My assignments included; Fire Suppression, Training Chief at North Net Fire Training Center where we were tasked with hiring and running our recruit academies, and Grant Manager, where I worked alongside our law enforcement brothers and sisters in managing a 10 million dollar anti-terrorism grant.In 2005 I graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education and a teaching credential.I have taught in the fire technology programs for Santa Ana College, Moreno Valley College, and am currently working full time for Mt. San Antonio College where I teach fire core classes, and assist with coordinating the Mt. SAC fire academy.In my spare time, I raised 3 children and am a proud Grandma to a little baby Kinsley.
Faculty
Chief Richard Beckman (909) 274-5279
Chief Beckman has 30 years of experience in the fire service, and has served as a Battalion Chief for the past 10 years. He is Fire Battalion Chief of the San Gabriel Fire Department. He earned an Associate's Degree in Fire Technology from Rio Hondo College in 1992. In 2002, he graduated from California State University Los Angels with a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Protection Administration and Technology. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy. There, he completed 3 years of residence courses. From 2004 to 2010 he served as the president of the Foothill Training Officers Association. Chief Beckman is a California State Fire Marshal Registered Master Instructor and Senior Master Instructor. He is also a California State Marshal Certified Fire Officer, Chief Fire Officer and Fire Instructor 3.
Captain Samuel Dominick (909) 274-5279
Engineer Dominick was raised in the fire service by his Dad who recently retired as the Head Maintenance Officer for Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department. He and his wife have been married for almost 9 years and have two children; a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. He enjoys hiking and camping with his family, SCUBA Diving, playing softball with his department’s team, and coaching his son's T-Ball Team. He is an Eagle Scout and tries to continue to help in his church and community wherever he can.
Engineer Dominick has been a member of the City of La Verne Fire Department for over 15 years. He was hired right out of the academy in 1995 as a Reserve Firefighter. In January, 2003, one week after graduating from Paramedic School, his lifelong dream of becoming a Firefighter came true. This past August, after 7 ½ years as a Firefighter/Paramedic, he was promoted to the rank of Engineer/Paramedic.He is very involved in his department, undertaking many projects and performing various duties. He is the Adviser for the department's Apprentice Firefighter Program, assists with their Explorer Program,and serves on the Apparatus and Equipment Committee.
Engineer Dominick graduated from Mt. SAC’s 15th Fire Academy in 1995 and made the 400 Club. He was taught by many of the best instructors in the fire service and now finds himself teaching along side some of those same leaders. He has been an academy instructor since the 36th class and is currently one of the Lead Instructors in Ladders. He assists in other modules as well, such as SCBA’s, Forcible Entry and Building Construction. This spring, he began teaching Fire 4 (Building Construction) on campus after substituting last semester. He has enjoyed his time teaching at the Academy and feels that he is finally able to give back to those who gave to him. He considers it an honor and a great responsibility to play a small part in the careers of some of our future firefighters.
Chief Richard Genovese (909) 274-5279 rgenovese@mtsac.edu
Chief Genovese is a retired Assistant Fire Chief with the City of West Covina Fire Department. In his 37 years of service he has served all categories of the department. He has made major contributions in the training division and has served on several advisory committees. He served as State Fire Marshal for four years, as president of the Foothill Training Offices for five years, and as Los Angels Fire Marshall. Chief Genovese holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration and is a graduate of the Mt. San Antonio College Fire Technology Program. He is a Certified Chief Officer, Fire Prevention Officer, Fire Investigator, Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, and Public Education Officer in the State of California.
Chief David Huffman (909) 274-5279
Chief Huffman retired after a 30 year career with the City of Brea Fire Department with the rank of Fire Division Chief. He is a state certified Fire Officer and Master Instructor. He also holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Technology, and Master’s Degree in Organization Development. Chief Huffman has published articles for two different fire service periodicals. Since 2001, Chief Huffman has taught classes in fire tactics, fire company organization, and combustion & fire behavior.
Captain Edward Lazar (909) 274-5279 elazar@mtsac.edu
Captain Lazar began his career in the fire service in 1977 when he was hired with the City of La Habra Fire . He was promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Operations Chief, and Fire Chief. On July 1, 2005 the City of La Habra Fire Department was absorbed by the Los Angels County Fire Department, where he is currently a Captain on a Quint. Captain Lazar began teaching in 1984, and has since taught classes covering a variety of Fire Technology topics, including: Fire Protection Organization, Emergency Trench Shoring, Firefighter Safety, Hazardous Materials, Fire Prevention Technology, and various fire academy topics.
Engineer Ryan Lazar rlazar@mtsac.edu
Engineer Lazar has over 10 years’ experience with the Anaheim Fire Department. He began teaching at Santa Ana College and Mt. SAC Fire Academy in 2005 covering Auto Extrication and ladders. Engineer Lazar transitioned to the traditional classroom setting in 2013 for the Fire Technology program. He currently teaches FIRE 1: Fire Protection Organization and FIRE 3: Fire Protection Equipment & Systems. Engineer Lazar holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton.
Captain Bob Lopez (909) 274-5279 rmlopez@mtsac.edu
Captain Lopez has been employed by the Los Angeles City Fire Department for 28 years. Throughout his career he has held the rank of Firefighter, Engineer, and Captain. Captain Lopez earned a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Protection and Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
Chief Janet Ortiz (909) 274-5279 jortiz@mtsac.edu
Chief Ortiz has 31 years of experience in environmental protection, with 18 of those years in hazardous materials management. She worked for the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health for almost 19 years, and then spent 12 years in the fire service having worked for the Anaheim Fire Department and the Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue. Chief Ortiz holds a Bachelor's degree in biology from the University of the Pacific and a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University. Janet is a California Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist and Hazardous Materials Outreach Instructor. She has been an adjunct instructor in hazardous materials at Mt. San Antonio College since Fall 2004.
