Paul Falavolito, WOSAR Team Commander |
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As a teenager in 1984, Paul started his career in emergency services
by joining The Civil Air Patrol. Attending as many SAR related schools and classes as he could, Paul eventually went
on to become Squadron 602 SAR Team Commander and also completed the Hawk Mountain Staff School for winter/summer survival
and SAR training. Paul is also a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and has worked and taught Scuba Diving all
over the world. Paul also holds a Commercial Diving Certification in underwater welding, nuclear and contaminated Diving
as well as Bell/Saturation Diving. He is also a certified Public Safety Diving instructor through PSDA (Public Safety Diving
Association) and currently holds Scuba Instructor certifications through PADI, PSDA, IANTD and CMAS. In 1997 Paul
became employed at White Oak EMS as a Paramedic and on September 11th, 2001 worked at the crash site in Somerset County.
In 2005, Paul laid the ground work to create the WOSAR Team after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. In 2006 Paul
created the WOSAR Dive Team for water rescue and recovery. SAR certifications through CCAC, The Allegheny County Fire
Academy,Texas A&M, FEMA, NASAR and DCNR.
Mark Jones - Assistant SAR Team Commander |
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Mark has been a state-certified paramedic since
1982 with local volunteer ambulance and rescue organizations. He was a Clinical Associate and Instructor for Advances Cardiac
Life Support and Basic Trauma Life Support for the Center for Emergency Medicine for Western Pennsylvania, University
of Pittsburgh and was an instructor for paramedic courses at several
local hospitals. He held offices in the local volunteer ambulance and rescue organization from 1981 to 1995 and was Chief
of the service from 1985 through 1989. He holds state certificates in Hazardous Materials, Vehicle and Special Vehicle Rescue
and Fundamentals of Fire Fighting. He was appointed by Governor Casey to the position of Emergency Management Coordinator
for the Borough of White Oak in 1992. He holds several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certificates and several
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) certificates in emergency management.
In 1999, he was appointed to the board of directors for the local ambulance organization and now holds the position
of Vice Chairman. He also performs public speaking engagements for local community organizations on Emergency Management,
EMS, and Fire issues.
Debbie Kresl - Emergency Services Coordinator |
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Debbie started working in emergency services in September 2004 by
joining The Civil Air Patrol. She holds Ground Team Leader, Ranger and Radio Operator certifications gained
through The Civil Air Patrol and is the Assistant Emergency Services Officer for Squadron 602 based out of the Allegheny County Airport. Since joining
WOSAR in December 2006, Debbie has become a SAR Tech III through NASAR and has completed many of the NIMS courses.
Fred Cooley, Team Safety Officer |
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Ken Peoples - Communications Officer |
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Jack Petro, Team Logistics |
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Rich Ralston, Chief Diving Officer |
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Joe Gebis, Financial Officer |
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Ruth Ragatz - Recording Secretary |
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Jason Russell - Public Relations |
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