Dr. Kellie O'Dare and Blake Richardson

Chris Baker, has over fifteen years of experience in volunteer, combination and career fire departments in California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology and Associates of Science Degree in Fire Service Command, Company Officer. Chris is a California State Fire Training certified Fire Officer, Driver-Operator, Fire Instructor, Lead Fire Fighter 1 and Fire Fighter 2 Certification Evaluator. He has over nine years of teaching experience in the California Community Colleges System as an Adjunct Instructor in the EMS discipline, Fire Fighter 1 Academy Instructor and Fire Science Instructor. Chris is a member of the California Fire Technology Directors’ Association and the California Training Officers Association. He served as a volunteer Peer Reviewer on the FY 2017 Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) for hiring and recruitment/retention. Chris also served as a volunteer Peer Reviewer on the FY 2017, FY 2018, FY 2019, FY 2020 COVID-S and FY 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grants. He is a Volunteer Advocate Regional Manager, Region IX (CA, NV, AZ, HI) for the Everyone Goes Home Program through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Chris serves as a volunteer member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety, Health and Survival Section serving in their staging area. He was a member of the 2018 and 2019 Safety Stand Down committees. Chris serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the National Fire Heritage Center located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He is the host of the Fire Engineering Radio: The Future Firefighter Podcast. Chris writes blog articles published through Firefighter Nation and the Fire Engineering Training Community on mentoring the future generations of the fire service.