Instructors

John Fox, Captain FFPD
Primary Instructor
Currently John Fox is the Fire Prevention Officer with the San Juan Bautista Fire Department in San Juan Bautista, CA. He was a Firefighter/Engineer for 8 years and a Captain/Duty Officer with Felton Fire Protection District for over 15 years. He was a Captain with Lockheed Fire Dept. in Sunnyvale, CA for over 3 years until closure of the department. Currently he is a Senior Investigator/Peace Officer for the CA State Department of Public Health. An avid horseman, John established the Felton Fire Dept. LAR Unit that responds mutual aid throughout central California. Currently John and Deb are the leads for the newly formed Large Animal Rescue Unit with the San Juan Bautista Fire Department. His analytical mind continues to resolve the many challenges of LAR incidents to build routine responses to highly volatile situations. He is the primary developer of LAR-Operations, approved by CA State Fire Training and POST and is a CA State Fire Instructor 1.

Deb Fox, FF2/EMT FFPD
Primary Instructor
Deb is a Firefigheer II/ EMT with the San Juan Bautista Fire Department. She is also a lead for the departments Large Animal Rescue Unit. Deb was a Firefighter II/EMT and lead for the Large Animal Rescue Unit with the FFPD for 9 years. A horsewoman with over 20 years experience, she is a lead in the LAR Unit with 12 years of LAR experience. With a passion for horses, Deb continues to develop and apply an understanding of horse behavior and characteristics to on-scene handling and safety. Deb is a CA State Fire Instructor 1 and was a developer of LAR-Operations. She also works as a Paintings Conservator for Stanford University.

Greg Malloy, Captain FFPD
Lead Instructor
Greg Malloy has been a Firefighter/Captain/Duty Officer with FFPD for 13 years. Greg began his fire career in 1976 as a Crash/Structural Firefighter with the U.S. Air Force. He spent 8 years as a FF/ Captain with Lockheed Fire and was a Rescue Systems 1 Instructor for 5 years. Greg played a vital role in the adaptation of rope systems for LAR and was a developer of LAR-Operational. As a LAR Unit Lead, he continues to develop the use and potential of multiple systems to accommodate the dynamic and unpredictable movement of large animals. Greg also worked as a Santa Cruz County Animal Services Officer.

Jason Smith, Captain FFPD
Lead Instructor
Jason Smith has been with FFPD for 8 years as a Firefighter/Engineer and is currently a Captain-Duty Officer and the Large Animal Rescue Unit Lead. He is also a fulltime Engineer for the Monterey Airport Fire Department. Jason previously worked with a rescue equipment supply firm and conducted many hours of confined space stand by. Jason is well versed in rope rescue systems and brings this perspective to scenarios. He is a LAR Unit Lead with many years of LAR experience as a rescuer and as Command.

Chief Ron Rickabaugh, FFPD
Lead Instructor
Ron has been with FFPD for over 25 years and has seerved as the chief for the last 15 years. Ron is well versed all aspects of Large Animal Rescue and brings the "Command" perspective to the scenarios. Ron has over 12 years of LAR experience from all perspectives.

Vaka Tanami, Firefighter, El Mirage Fire, AZ
Lead Instructor
Vaka Taimani is currently a firefighter with the El Mirage Fire Department in Arizona. Vaka was with FFPD for several years as a Firefighter and has years of experience in large animal rescues. Vaka is will versed in the use of rope systems and equipment application for Large Animal Rescues

Isaac Blum, Captain FFPD
Instructor
Isaac Blum has been with the FFPD for 8 years as a Engineer and is currently a Captain-Duty Officer. He is also a fulltime Engineer with Moffet Field Fire. Prior to his work at FFPD, Isaac was a park ranger with the City of Santa Cruz and reserve police officer with Capitola and Scotts Valley Police Depts. His background in law enforcement helps him to interface effectively with those agencies on scene. He also brings this law enforcement perspective to the classroom. Isaac is a LAR Unit Lead with several years of LAR experience.

Angela Gonzales, Engineer/Paramedic Central Santa Cruz Fire Protection District
Instructor
Angela has been with Central Fire for several years as a Firefighter and is currently an Engineer/Paramedic.