Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency Services

About our authors Jason B. Loyd started his career in 1996 as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with Medina Valley in Castroville, Texas, while also attending San Antonio College. In 1998 he completed his studies at the San Antonio College Regional Fire Academy and was offered a job overseas as a contract firefighter on a US military base. He was stationed in Hungary for two years and then promoted to Bosnia for two years. In Bosnia, he was responsible for training local national Bosnians in the Department of Defense firefighter standards for Fire Fighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, Airport Fire Fighter, Driver/Operator-Pumper and Driver/Operator-ARFF in addition to being a crew chief.

Mr. Loyd earned his associate of applied science degree from San Antonio College in fire science and his baccalaureate degree from Empire State College in business management and economics with a concentration in fire service administration. Mr. Loyd went through the National Fire Academy Distance Degree Program to obtain his baccalaureate degree. After completing his BS degree in 2001, he was offered a full-time position at Weatherford College in fire science technology. Mr. Loyd and his wife then relocated back to the United States from Bosnia. At Weatherford, he was responsible for the curricula of two associate of applied science degrees, the regional fire academy, and all fire service training courses offered at the college.

He holds various certifications with the Department of Defense and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, including master fire fighter, aircraft rescue fire fighter, fire officer IV, fire instructor III, driver/operator-pumper, fire inspector II, fire investigator and field examiner. Mr. Loyd was awarded the Texas Association of Fire Educators George Hughes Instructor of the Year Award for 2003 and was recognized in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. In 2004, he was appointed to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Curriculum and Testing Committee and in the same year was appointed to the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Degree Assembly Board of Governors. In 2005, he completed his Master of Arts degree in education with a concentration in higher education. He remains a volunteer firefighter and EMS training coordinator with Brazos County Precinct 3 Volunteer Fire Department.

In May 2007, Jason was hired as an industrial fire instructor for the private sector group for the Emergency Services Training Institute Division of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, a part of the Texas A&M University System. In 2011, Mr. Loyd was selected as the subject matter expert to develop the new online fire academy program. In 2012, Mr. Loyd was promoted to training manager to run the new Online Recruit Academy at Brayton Fire Training Field. As of 2017, 17 sessions of the online recruit class/boot camp have been conducted, and he continues to teach new recruits using new technologies and promoting safety and education. He has been married to his wife, Melissa, since 1993; she also works at Texas A&M University as an environmental services coordinator. They have two daughters, Keeley and Arabella.

James D. (J.D.) Richardson is a Vietnam veteran who served for four years with the U.S. Air Force. In 1973, following his military service, he joined the Houston Fire Department. J.D. enrolled in the fire science program at Houston Community College, but before completing his associate degree, he transferred to the University of Houston and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in technology in 1977. He served as an engineer/operator from 1979 to 1991. During this time, he fulfilled his duties as an EMT, hazardous materials team member, heavy rescue technician and pumper and ladder truck operator. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1991.

During his tenure as a captain with the Houston Fire Department, J.D. developed a hydraulic rescue tool training program that was used to train more than 500 Houston firefighters in the use of the Hurst rescue tools. He was also chosen to be a member of a hazardous materials training team with the International Association of Fire Fighters and helped initiate the 24-hour hazardous materials awareness and operations pilot program now being mandated for the fire service.

Captain Richardson retired from the Houston Fire Department in 1997 and began a new career as an instructor of fire science with San Antonio College. During his tenure with the college, J.D. achieved his Master of Arts in education at the University of Texas San Antonio and achieved the rank of assistant professor. He was instrumental in developing the college's associate of applied science degree in emergency medical services in 1998.

In 2003, J.D. developed and initiated the first associate of applied science degree in emergency management in the State of Texas. The program was modified to emergency management and homeland security administration in 2006. He later developed and initiated a certificate and associate of applied science degree for the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Agency. J.D. served as codirector of the fire science degree program and chair of the Protective Services Department. He is certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a master firefighter and level III master instructor.

J.D. retired in 2012 and now enjoys being with Dianne, his wife of 46 years; their son, R.J.; daughter-in-law, Kate; and beautiful granddaughter, Cadwyn.