ALASKA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elected Officers Team
- President
Started his Fire Service career in 1994 in Hanover County, Virginia and is now a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3 Prevention Officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. Completed a 20-year career at Nikiski Fire Department where he served in all positions from Firefighter to Fire Chief. He has 28 years of experience in fire and emergency services. From 1996-2002, he was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard working at various assignments as well as a civilian employee with Coast Guard Fire. He was appointment to the Alaska Fire Standards Council in 2011 and continued to serve as a member of the council until 2019. He continues to chair the NFPA 1033 and 921 committee for the Alaska Fire Standards Council. He is a member of several professional associations to include the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, International Association of Arson Investigators, Alaska Association of Fire and Arson Investigators, Fire Department Safety Officers Association and the National Fire Protection Association. He was the former Program Director/Adjunct Instructor for UAA/KPC Firefighter program.
His certifications include:
Is currently the Fire Chief. Ernie is a CFEI (Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator) with the National Association of Fire Investigators. He is a founding member of the Alaska Association of Fire & Arson Investigators. He also was part of the group who established the Certified Fire Investigator Program in Alaska. Originally from Northwest Indiana (just outside Chicago), he started his emergency services career in 1973 with the US Army Fire Department at Ft. Rucker (Alabama) before being assigned to Alaska US Army Garrison Fire Department at Ft. Wainwright. Since starting his career, he has worked for the military fire department, US BLM, Department of Defense Fire Protection, US Air Force Fire Protection, Alaska State Fire Marshal's Office, North Star Volunteer Fire Department, the City of Fairbanks Fire Department and now Salcha Fire & Rescue. He is (since 1984) an adjunct instructor with the University of Alaska CTC (Community & Technical College) in the Fire Science Program. His passion is fire prevention and has been a strong advocate of residential fire sprinklers as well as fire safety education. He is an NFPA LNTB and RISK Watch Champion and has worked to implement and been part of various fire and life safety education programs both locally and statewide. His vision is … Looking to the future…a Fire Free Alaska.
Job Titles:
- Lead Fire Inspector at JBER
Justin started his career in September 2001 at Shaw Air Force Base (South Carolina) Since starting his career he has been assigned to Eielson Air Force Base, McChord (Washington), Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Whiteman (Missouri). He retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service and during that time he served in almost every position in the department to include Battalion Chief, Health and Safety Officer, and Deputy Fire Chief.
Justin is currently the Lead Fire Inspector at JBER where he manages the fire investigation program. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Fire Science and is currently a member both the AAFAI and IAAI.
His certifications include:
Job Titles:
- Eielson AFB Fire Department
Rikk Matteson is a native of Spokane Washington; however, after joining the United Stated Air Force in 1996 he has lived throughout the world. Rikk served in the Air Force as a firefighter for 20 years, retiring in 2016.
During his tenure he served in every position from firefighter to a Regional Fire Chief. Since his retirement, he accepted a position as an Assistance Chief with Eielson Fire Emergency Services. He has been an Alaskan resident for 22 years and currently lives in North Pole with his wife and 5 sons.
Rikk took advantage of the military educational benefits completing numerous fire and medical certifications and 3 college degrees. He received his AKCFI in 2016 and currently a member of AAFAI and IAAI.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elected Officers Team
- Vice President
- Member of AAFAI
Tyler Buff started his fire service career in 2007 as a firefighter in the State of California. In 2015, he moved to Alaska and was hired on with West Lakes Fire Department which serves the area of Big Lake and Meadow Lakes in the Mat-Su Borough. In 2018, he began his training and education in fire investigation. Currently, Tyler serves as the Fire Prevention Officer and a Station Captain for West Lakes FD.
Tyler has been a member of AAFAI since 2018 and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Southcentral region.
His certifications include:
Firefighter II, FADO Series, Fire Officer I, and Fire Service Instructor I. He is a certified State of Alaska EMT I, Fire Investigator, and Alaska Fire Investigator Technician (AKFIT).