Texas

JACOB “Chappy” CHAPMAN: IAAI/FIT, NAFI-CFEI – Livingston, TX

Jacob Chapman is a Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Jacob has more than 10 years of experience in the fire service, previously serving as Fire Marshal with the Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office. He serves as a Deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and a Fire Investigator and Fire Inspector with the Livingston Fire Department. He is also a Firefighter with the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department and a Law Enforcement Instructor at Angelina Community College, teaching courses in mental health, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. Jacob also assists with the Texas Basic Peace Officer Academy course.

Jacob also served in law enforcement for 15 years as a jailer, patrolman, patrol deputy, patrol corporal, and detective. He holds Fire Investigator, Fire Inspector, and Fire and Life Safety Educator certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

BRIAN L. GILMORE: IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI, NAFI/CVFI – Dallas, TX

Brian is an experienced expert witness in fire-related court cases. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator though the National Association of Fire Investigators. Brian is also a Master Peace Officer, Master Arson Investigator, and Master Fire Inspector in the state of Texas with over twenty-six years of experience in the fire service. He is a former Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a former member of the ATF’s National Response Team, and a former Accelerant Detection Canine Handler Certified by the ATF. He holds degrees in Fire Protection Technology and Fire Investigation Technology and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. He is a member in good standing of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the North American Police Work Dog Association, and numerous other professional organizations.

JOSEPH VALENZUELA: NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – El Paso, TX

Joseph is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has more than 10 years of experience as a private fire investigator in Texas and New Mexico. Joseph has served as a licensed Texas Master Peace Officer within the Crime Scene Unit of the El Paso Police Department since 2006, and he is a State Certified Instructor with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He is a Certified Arson Investigator through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He has made several court appearances and testified in many trials. Joseph is a member in good standing with the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, and the International Association for Identification.

KENNY L. WILSON: IAAI/CFI – Fort Worth, TX

Kenny Wilson is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has more than 35 years of experience in the fire service, more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, and 25 years of experience in fire and arson investigation.  His service includes serving as a police officer, firefighter and fire marshal.  Kenny has served as an instructor for fire and arson investigations, law enforcement, and hazardous materials response to public and private organizations.  He is a training committee chair of a regional Arson Task Force and a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, serving as an instructor of the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony Course.  Kenny is also a member of the Texas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and serves on the Board of Directors. Additionally, he is the Chairman of the CFI Committee and serves on the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Science Advisory Workgroup.

PHILLIP R. GRONA: NAFI/CVFI, IAAI/CFI – San Antonio, TX

Phillip Grona is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He is also certified through the Texas Commission of Fire Protection as a Fire Investigator and Fire Inspector I and II. He has more than 16 years of experience as a fire investigator. Phillip earned his master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University. Additionally, he earned his associate’s degree in Fire Administration from Midland College.

BARRY K. CATES: IAAI/CFI – Longview, TX

Barry is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Master Fire Investigator through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. In addition, he is a certified Master Firefighter and Inspector through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Barry is also a Texas licensed paramedic and peace officer. He retired after 23 years of service to the Longview Fire Department, 15 years of which were in the Longview Fire Marshal’s Office. Barry holds an intermediate instructor certificate and has experience teaching firefighting and fire investigation topics.

MATTHEW BUSHNELL: NAFI/CFEI – San Antonio, TX

Matthew Bushnell is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has 25 years of experience in the fire service and currently serves as Assistant Chief of the New Braunfels Fire Department. Additionally, he has investigated arson with the same department for 15 years, as well as with the Seguin Fire Department for eight years. Matthew also holds the ranking of Master Arson Investigator and Master Peace Officer through the State of Texas. He is a member in good standing with the National Association of Fire Investigators and has an associate degree in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Weatherford College.

MACK FULLER:  NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – Blanco, TX

Mack Fuller is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He worked in the public fire service for thirty years, including ten years as an investigator for the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office. Mack has been conducting private fire investigations for over twenty years, ten of which were spent as an owner, operator and investigator of Trinity Fire Investigations in Blanco, TX. He is Court Qualified expert in the state of Texas and a member in good standing of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Fire Protection agency and the National Association of Fire Investigators.

DOUG HICKS:  NAFI/CFEI – Marble Falls, TX 

Doug Hicks is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators, with more than thirty years of combined experience as a fire investigator in both the public and private sectors. He has twenty-five years of experience in the fire service at the Houston Fire Department, where he most recently served in the capacity of Senior Arson/Fire Investigator. He also has sixteen years of experience as a private investigator in Texas. Doug is a court-qualified expert witness and is a member of the Texas Municipal Police Association, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the Central Texas Fire Investigators, and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

GREGORY GORDON:  IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – Houston, TX 

Greg Gordon is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators.  He has over 34 years of experience in the fire service and was promoted through the ranks to the level of Fire Investigator for the City of Houston, a position he held from 2007 until his retirement from the Houston Fire Department in 2019.  He has also been employed as a private investigator since 2010, giving him experience in investigating fire cause and origin in both the public and private sectors.  Greg is a graduate of the University of Houston. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Arson Investigators, the Texas Firefighters Association, and the Texas Municipal Police Association.

J.C. Travis:  IAAI/CFI(V), NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – Sweetwater, TX

J.C. Travis is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator as well as a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigation through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over 30 years of experience in the fire service, combined with 15 years of law enforcement experience. J.C. retired from the Wise County Fire Marshal’s Office in 2015. He has been working as a private fire investigator in the State of Texas since that time. Travis is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators.

Ryan L. Taylor:  IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CVFI – Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Ryan is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He also holds Master Certifications as a Fire and Arson Investigator with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He is a Certified Hazardous Device Technician through the FBI’s Hazardous Devices School. Ryan holds his Master Peace Officer Certification through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. He holds Master Certifications as a Fire Inspector I and II and Plans Examiner as well as certifications as a Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Service Instructor I and II, Police Basic Instructor Proficiency, and Field Examiner. He is also a licensed paramedic with the Texas Department of Health. Ryan retired with over 20 years of experience with the Denton Fire Department, the last 10 of which were served as a member of the department’s Bomb & Arson Unit. Ryan is a member of numerous professional organizations and has served on several Arson Task Forces in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Wesley “Wes” A. Jones: IAAI/CFI – Fort Worth, TX

Wes Jones is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Fire Officer II, Advanced Fire Investigator, Fire Service Instructor I, Advanced Firefighter, and HazMat Operator through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Wes has more than 15 years of experience in fire and arson investigation and more than 22 years in the fire service, including serving as fire inspector, plans examiner, and public education coordinator. He currently serves as Internal Affairs Investigator of the Mansfield Fire Rescue. Wes is also a lead fire investigator for the department. Wes has received several awards for his service, two of which were Life Saving Awards and Letters of Commendation from the Mansfield Fire Rescue. In conjunction with his time in the fire service, he has worked as a law enforcement officer, enforcing laws related to fires and firefighting. In addition, he has reviewed construction plans and observed the testing of various fire protection, detection, and suppression systems. Wes is a member of the Texas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Tarrant County Fire and Arson Investigator’s Association.

Mark J. Gordon: IAAI/CFI, IAAI/FIT, NAFI/CFEI, NAFI/CVFI – Houston TX

Mark Gordon is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators., as well as a Certified Fire Inspector I through the International Code Council. He is a Certified Firefighter II and a Certified Hazardous Materials Operations through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. Mark is also a certified Fire Inspector I through the International Code Council and a Fire Investigator Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Mark has more than 9 years of fire service experience, including working for the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal as an Arson Bomb Investigator as well as the Assistant Fire Marshal for the Charleston SC Fire Department. He also served as an Intern Fire Marshal for the FDNY Fire Department City of NY. Mark served as a Fire Inspector/Investigator for the City of Yuma, AZ Fire Department and has been a firefighter in both the White Hall and Scott County, KY Fire Departments.