Response Technologies Instructors
Douglas Wolfe
Primary Member / Senior Instructor
Douglas Wolfe has been instructing hazardous materials and special operations topics since 1989 when he developed the Hazardous Materials Technician program for the Sarasota County Technical Institute. In the early 1990’s Doug was appointed to the Florida State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Training Task Force where he helped guide the development of the Florida hazmat response system and ultimately chaired the Task Force for six years until 2009. In 1996, He was invited to the National Fire Academy to aid in the development of the “Advanced Life Support Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents and has continued to instruct this national program for since it release. After this development he continued to serve the NFA by authoring or co-authoring numerous other programs including “EMS Management of Special Operations”, “Emergency Response to Terrorism: Tactical Considerations”, “Chemistry for Emergency Response” and several others. In addition to the National Fire Academy Doug has developed and instructed several state training programs as well as programs for the FBI National Academy, NASA and other public and private sector organizations nation wide. As founder of Response Technologies, he continues to develop and deliver programs for traditional and online delivery.
James "Steve" Coffin
Instructor / Technical Specialist
During his thirty years in the fire service, Mr. Coffin has spent fifteen in hazardous materials and special operations as a Technician/Paramedic. Currently, James serves on the training committee for the Sarasota County (Florida) Fire Department Special Operations Team and is an adjunct faculty member at the National Fire Academy. With his extensive experience in the technical and tactical aspects of special operations, James is uniquely qualified to enable others to learn from his experience. Steve brings to Response Technologies an extensive history in training program development and delivery at both the local and national levels.
Frank DeFrancesco
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Exercise Designer
Frank DeFrancesco starting in the fire service in 1984 with the City of Largo (FL) Fire Department and spent 21 years with their Hazardous Materials Team and ultimately servved as team manager. In 2006 he moved to Hernando County Fire Rescue as Assistant Chief of Operations where he continued to develop and manage their hazardous materials team. Frank holds a Bachelors of Business Administration and has extensive training in hazardous materials, incident management and exercise design. He brings to Response Technologies over 29 years of hazardous materials instructional experience.
Danial Bartle
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Clandestine Lab Specialist
Recently retired from Polk County Fire Rescue after 28 years Dan started in Hazmat response in 1989 eventually promoting to Battalion Chief of Special Operations. Dan specialized in an dultimately developed procedures for dismantling “one pot” methamphetamine labs. These procedures are being used by numerous Florida departments today Dan also served as an original member of the Tactical Hazmat Unit for a Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. Before coming to Response Technologies Dan was employed for a private environmental response company where he served as the Decontamination Manager during a major FBI investigation in 2002. An instructor since 1992 in various topics Dan Joined Response Technologies Corporation in 2011 wher he instructs Hazmat Technician, Response to Clandestine Labs, and Rapid Identification and Risk Assessment among other programs. Dan has been married for 22 years with two children.
Keith Hubbard
Law Enforcement / Narcotics
Detective Hubbard has been in law enforcement since 2001 and has worked in uniform patrol and as a narcotics detective. He has been involved in the investigation and closure of narcotics operations ranging from low and mid level dealers to high level trafficking organizations. In his involvement with High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office he has been involved in over 200 methamphetamine lab in a four year period and is a court deemed subject matter expert.
Tom Berninger
Hazardous Materials Instructor
Tom has been employed for 22 years with Sarasota County Fire Department and currently serves as a Special Operations Lieutenant. He has 15 years experience in hazardous materials and special operations, holds an A.S. Degree in Fire Science and is a certified Florida Hazardous Materials Technician, Instructor II and EMT. Tom has also been a certified American Heart Association CPR Instructor for the last eight years, teaching CPR and AED classes both internally and externally. He has been with Response Technologies since 2009 where he is an adjunct instructor for the Hazardous Materials Technician Program and lead instructor in Offensive NG and LPG Leak Control.
Calvin "Cal" Lewis
Hazardous Materials & Fire Instructor
Cal Lewis started in the Fire Service in 1979 and served for over 23 years with the Pinellas County Hazardous Materials Response Team. He brings with him extensive instructional experience in firefighting, hazardous materials and incident management. He has been instructing with Response Technologies since 2012 and specializes in hazardous materials field evolutions.