Georgia

JESSIE KNIGHT: IAAI/CFI – Bogart, GA

Jessie R. Knight is a fire investigator with over 18 years of experience in the fire service, emergency management, and origin-and-cause investigations. He brings extensive expertise in fire dynamics, NFPA 921/1033 methodology, evidence preservation, and forensic analysis.

Jessie holds a Master of Science degree in Fire Executive Leadership with a concentration in Public Administration, as well as a Graduate Specialist certificate in Forensic Science. He is a Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (NAFI-CFEI), and Evidence Collection Technician (IAAI-ECT). His investigative background includes residential, commercial, vehicle, and equipment fires, with experience managing complex scenes involving multiple stakeholders.

Prior to joining NEFCO, Jessie served as Fire Marshal for Barrow County, Georgia, where he supervised fire investigations, inspections, plan review, and community risk reduction programs. He has investigated more than 265 fires, participated in criminal investigations resulting in arrests, and has provided courtroom testimony and sworn depositions in fire-related cases. Jessie is actively serving as Second Vice President of the Georgia Fire Investigators Association and as a facilitator for IAAI’s Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony training.

RODNEY WHEAT: Electrical Engineer – Lawrenceville, GA

Rodney Wheat is an electrical engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He has 30 years of engineering experience including project engineering, product design, and manufacturing support. Rodney performs forensic engineering analysis on location and in laboratories, including destructive and nondestructive testing and analysis of electrical systems and components as needed in subrogation cases.

MICHAEL (SHANE) DANIEL: IAAI/CFI – Canton, GA

Shane Daniel is an experienced expert witness in fire-related court cases. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators. Shane has been a law enforcement officer for over 30 years serving Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services and Cobb County Department of Public Safety. He has more than 24 years of fire investigation experience, including 11 years as manager of the Office of Professional Standards & Fire Investigations with the Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. Shane is currently a fire investigator for the Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services handling origin and cause investigations and drone operations within the arson unit.

RYAN H. THURMOND: IAAI-CFI – Atlanta, GA

Ryan Thurmond is a Certified Fire Investigator by the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has conducted detailed cause and origin investigations and participated in serving search warrants, surveillance, stakeouts, interrogations, interviews, and arrests of alleged arsonists and other major felony cases. He has also given expert testimony in multiple arson cases in the state of Georgia’s Superior Court. Ryan was a Lieutenant in the Gwinnett County Fire Service’s Arson/Explosive Investigation Unit, as well as a Criminal Investigator with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office. He is an expert in the field of psycho-physiology, detection of deception, and polygraph examination.

JEFFREY BRYANT: NAFI/CFEI – Tallahassee, FL

Jeffrey Bryant is an experienced private fire investigator and has testified as an expert witness in both district and circuit court proceedings. He is a Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over 27 years of experience in the fire service, recently retiring as a lieutenant from the Detroit Fire Department’s Arson Section. Jeffrey was a certified inspector and instructor by the State of Michigan. He was a fire investigator and a sworn police officer, and he participated in over 800 origin and cause investigations working with the Michigan State Police, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on larger investigations.

J. RONALD REAGAN: IAAI/CFI, IAAI/CFI, IAAI/FIT, ECT – Stockbridge, GA

Ronald Reagan is a Certified Fire Investigator, a Certified Fire Investigator Technician, and a Certified Evidence Collection Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators. Ronald is certified as a State of Georgia Inspector, Fire Investigator and Electrical Contractor (Non-Restricted since 1989). He is also certified Fire Investigator through the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. He was a Certified Peace Officer through the Georgia Police Standards and Training Council before retiring in 2021. Ronald has over 37 years of experience as a firefighter, 17 years as a fire investigator and 27 years as a peace officer. He has performed over sixteen thousand fire inspections ranging from residential to industrial occupancies utilizing National Life Safety Codes, National Fire Codes, and Georgia Accessibility Codes. Ronald’s knowledge as a certified electrician has been instrumental in his fire investigations and building inspections. He has experience as an adjunct instructor at both the Georgia Fire Academy and the Georgia Police Academy. Ronald is an experienced expert witness in fire-related court proceedings.

A. BUD THAMES: IAAI-CFI – Charleston, SC

Bud Thames is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators. Bud recently retired after serving as the Battalion Chief of the Mount Pleasant fire Department for over twenty years. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the fire and law enforcement services. In 2015, Bud served as the President of the South Carolina Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and previously served on the Board of Directors of the same organization. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from South Wesleyan University.