National Grid first responder advisory panel
These first responders lend their expertise to the development of National Grid’s natural gas and electrical safety e-learning programs. In addition, we thank the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Flammable Gas Training Group for their contributions to the LNG learning modules.
Brian P. Duggan formerly commanded the Northampton and Northborough, MA, Fire Depts. He has held several key positions with the MA Dept. of Fire Services. Mr. Duggan is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. In 2012, Mr. Duggan received a Master’s in Homeland Security through the Naval Postgraduate School based in Monterey, CA. He was designated a Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. He led the MA Dept. of Fire Services through his affiliation as chairman of the Fire Chiefs Association of MA Technology Committee and as a regional director on the MA State Fire Mobilization Committee, in which he remains active. Mr. Duggan has authored several publications, including Section 7, Chapter 3, Fire Dept. Information Systems, in the 19th and 20th editions of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Protection Handbook.
Michael Hazel serves as Chief of the Tewksbury, MA, Fire Dept., a suburban community with an LNG bulk storage facility and underground bulk transmission line. He is also an instructor at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, working in the Flammable Gas Training Group and Fire Prevention Officer Program.
Robert V. Hughes Jr. is the Chief Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in NY. He has dedicated 40 years to the fire service with the East Meadow, NY, Fire Dept., where he served as Chief of Department and has been an instructor for over 20 years. He manages a staff of 71 2nd Deputy Chief Instructors at the fire academy, training, on average, 10,000 volunteer firefighters a year. Chief Hughes is also a sitting member of the Nassau County Fire Commission.
David J. Juron is a Level 2 Pro Board-Certified Fire Investigator in Guilderland, New York. He has been an active volunteer firefighter since 1974 and worked for National Grid, formerly Niagara Mohawk, for 35 years. He is a NYS-certified instructor of volunteer and paid fire departments, insurance professionals, and building code officials as well as fire investigators in carbon monoxide and natural gas and electric emergencies. He teaches seminars statewide.
Otto R. Kohlmier Jr. is Chairman of the NYSAFC’s Volunteer Chiefs Committee, Past President of the Fire Chiefs Council of Nassau County, and Past President of the Nassau County Firemen’s Association. Since 1970 he has been an active member, and a Past Chief, of the Hewlett Fire Department, Nassau County, New York.
Nicholas Lambert serves as Training Officer for the Oxford Fire-EMS Department in Oxford, MA, and has been in the Fire Service since 2002. He is also the Coordinator for the District 7 Technical Rescue Program and a Rescue Instructor for the Massachusetts Fire Academy.
Mark Roche is Captain of and has been a member of the Newton, MA, Fire Dept. since 1984, and has been a company officer since 1990. He also serves as President of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors.
Norm Seymour has been a member of the Massachusetts Fire Service since 1987 and currently works in a community with a large LNG peak-shaving facility supplied by two large transmission lines. Mr. Seymour has also been an instructor at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy since 1992 and has been a coordinator of the Flammable Gas Training Group since 2006. This group provides LNG, LPG and natural gas training to firefighters and industry personnel from around the world. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Hazardous Response Team since 1999. Mr. Seymour is also a Safety/Training consultant for UGI Energy Services, General Electric, Omya Inc. and the University of Massachusetts.
Christopher R. Strong is the Chief of the North Syracuse, NY, Fire Dept. He was elected Chief of Fire in April of 2017. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the fire service. He is a New York State Certified Codes Official & County Fire Instructor. Mr. Strong also works for the Onondaga County Dept. of Emergency Communications, where he is a Shift Supervisor & Duty Commander. He has attained ENP (Emergency Number Professional), COM-L and TERT Team Leader designations. Mr. Strong holds a BA in Public Administration/Communications from SUNY Oswego.
Kevin Krogh is the Manager in Training overseeing First Responder Training at National Grid. He has been an active Volunteer Firefighter with the Ballston Spa, NY, Fire Dept. since 1986, serving as a Chief Officer for eight years previously, and is now again in that role. He was nominated Fire Chief of the Year for Saratoga County in 2003 and received an NYS Assembly Citation and medal of merit from Senator James Tedisco in 2005 for his efforts in saving life and property.