As anyone serving in the emergency response disciplines can attest, our 21 st Century world is fraught with potential and existing threats posed by IEDs, active-shooter/bombers, bombings at public gatherings, and attacks on law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Whether acts of jihadi inspired terrorism, extremists, radicals, or “lone wolf” actors, it has never been more important for law enforcement officers, firefighters, detectives, intelligence specialists, bomb technicians, security professionals, and criminalists, to share information and act as one well-practiced team.
This conference is meant to do just that; increase your situational awareness and elevate your performance in matters related to IEDs. By leveraging our assets and skills, we can create a more informed and safer environment for emergency first responders.
We have assembled several experts in the field; from the Israeli National Police bomb disposal units, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Homeland Security, California State Fire Marshall’s Office, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Los Angeles County DA’s Office, willing to share their knowledge and experience.
Wednesday, July 19
Thursday, July 20
Mike served in the US Army for 7 years, then the LASD for 35 years; with the last 17 on the LASD bomb squad. “Retirement” lasted all of one month. For the past 7 years, he has served as a trainer/consultant to LASD SEB, California POST, FBI, and several Southern California bomb canine teams. He provides training nationally and internationally for the US State Department and is the author of three books.
Shavit is an internationally recognized expert in Counter-Improvised Explosives Device (C-IED) and counter-terrorist (CT) operations, having served as the senior bomb disposal officer for the Israeli National Police bomb division for many years.
In his capacity as a C-IED, CT, and security expert, he has developed operational protocols for the Israeli C-IED and CT communities, conducted sensitive site security missions, and provided the US Department of Defense, the FBI, LASD, and military and police bomb squads worldwide, with a level of technical and tactical expertise in all matters related to the terrorist/criminal use of explosives.
RJ has been with DHS Federal Protective Service (FPS) since 2014 where he served in different law enforcement positions in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. During his time there he had the privilege of serving as a District Commander where he was asked to take on the role of Incident Commander and other leadership positions in major civil disturbance operations in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Prior to FPS, RJ served 10 years in the US Navy in the intelligence community and as an Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Officer deploying with special units within the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments. RJ returned home to southern California in the fall of 2022 where he was born and raised to prioritize his family and continues his service with FPS.
Dana has 26 years of experience as an LASD/SEB SWT member, air rescue paramedic, and recovery diver. For more than 30 years, he has developed and provided instruction nationally and internationally to thousands of SWAT, military, search and rescue personnel, police officers, and bomb disposal officers on mass casualty, critical care, and bombing-related trauma. He has served on US State Department mobile training teams to Greece, Thailand, Brazil, and Japan.
Joe is a former Supervising Arson Investigator, Bomb Technician and Bomb Squad Commander with 40 years of experience conducting arson/bomb and terrorism investigations. He has taught nationally and internationally as part of the US State Department Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. He is the author of two books.
Oscar has been with the LASD for 24 years, assigned for the past 7 years to the bomb squad. He is certified by the FBI as a Tactical Bomb Technician.
Sergei is a veteran prosecutor specializing in the prosecution of violent criminals, specifically those engaged in arson/bombing cases.
Nick served in the US Army and USAF as a bomb disposal officer with a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He was a police officer for 8 years and is currently an arson/bomb investigator and Federal Task Force Officer for the California State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Charlie retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept after 33 years of service, including 15 as a bomb technician on the Special Enforcement Detail/bomb squad. He is currently employed by the California State Fire Marshal’s Office as an investigator.
2015, and began his service in Region 9, Eastern District-Tucson, AZ. Currently, Anil serves as an Explosive Detection Canine Handler assigned to Region 9, Central District, LA-Metro office. Anil and his canine partner Tigi are responsible for protecting federal facilities, employees, and visitors visiting these facilities through enhanced law enforcement and security operations. Prior to joining FPS, Anil served 13 years in the US Army as an All-Source Intelligence Officer supporting national, strategic, and tactical intelligence collection operations and programs. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND).
