Commission & RPD Contacts
The Fire and Rescue Division Commission and Research & Program Development (RPD) staff with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) support the statewide delivery of fire and rescue training, certification, qualification, accreditation, records management, and incident reporting programs. Staff work closely with community colleges, fire departments, high school fire academies, instructors, and delivery agencies across North Carolina to support certification processes, qualification testing, OSFM 24 operations, student records and transcripts, testing administration, accreditation compliance, and incident reporting through the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) in accordance with applicable NFPA professional qualification standards and established policies and procedures.
Commission and RPD staff also provide technical assistance and support to delivery agencies while assisting the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission, Certification Board, and Certified Fire Investigator Board with policy and procedure compliance, records management, qualification processes, instructor support, test bank administration, pilot programs, and continuous improvement initiatives designed to maintain the quality, consistency, and integrity of fire and rescue certification programs throughout North Carolina.
Kevin Gordon is the Division Chief of Fire and Rescue Services Commission, Research & Program Development (RPD), Training, and the North Carolina Emergency Training Center (NC ETC). He provides executive leadership and oversight for statewide fire and rescue certification, qualification, and training programs, while supervising the operations of the Commission, RPD, Training Division, and NC ETC. He works closely with the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, instructors, and stakeholders to ensure compliance with state policies and standards, support accreditation and continuous improvement initiatives, and maintain the integrity and effectiveness of North Carolina’s fire and rescue training system.
Kevin Gordon
Division Chief Fire Rescue Services Commission, RPD, Training, NC ETC
kevin.gordon@ncdoi.gov
919-607-4621
Michael Caviness is the Supervisor of Commission and RPD, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He provides leadership and oversight for statewide certification and qualification initiatives while acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies, assists with audits and program oversight, and ensures consistent communication of decisions, standards, and program updates across the state.
Michael Caviness
Supervisor Commission/RPD
michael.caviness@ncdoi.gov
919-607-4621
Monna Gillespie provides administrative support for Certifications, OSFM 24, NERIS, ImageTrend RMS, NFA courses, and the annual NFA State Weekend. She assists departments, delivery agencies, and stakeholders with reporting systems, program coordination, and statewide training support initiatives. She also serves as the Staff Secretary for the CFI Board.
Monna Gillespie
Administrative Support Specialist
monna.gillespie@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0088 (Office)
Michele Thomas provides administrative support for Certifications, OSFM 24, NERIS, and ImageTrend RMS. She assists departments, delivery agencies, and stakeholders with system access, reporting support, records management, and program coordination related to fire and rescue certification and reporting systems statewide.
Michele Thomas
Administrative Support Specialist
michele.thomas@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0088 (Office)
Kim Williams serves as a Certification Support Specialist. She supports delivery agencies, students, instructors, and Certification Specialists across the state in maintaining compliance with state certification records and certification policies, and helps ensure consistent communication of decisions, standards, and program updates statewide. She serves as the primary point of contact for all equivalent credit requests and also serves as the Staff Secretary for the NC Fire and Rescue Commission and Certification Board.
Kim Williams
Certification Support Specialist
kim.williams@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0093 (Office)
Tom Simmons serves as the Certification Specialist for Region 1, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies and procedures, assists with audits, qualification testing, and program oversight, and helps ensure consistent communication of certification standards, program updates, and Commission decisions across the region. He also assists with certification operations, instructor support, and statewide training initiatives as needed.
Tom Simmons
Certification Specialist, Region 1
thomas.simmons@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0000 (Office)
Joe Ramsey serves as the Certification Specialist for Region 3, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies and procedures, assists with audits, qualification testing, and program oversight, and helps ensure consistent communication of certification standards, program updates, and Commission decisions across the region. He also assists with certification operations, instructor support, and statewide training initiatives as needed.
Joe Ramsey
Certification Specialist, Region 3 & 2W
joe.ramsey@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0000 (Office)
Ben Smith serves as the Certification Specialist for Region 4, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies and procedures, assists with audits, qualification testing, and program oversight, and helps ensure consistent communication of certification standards, program updates, and Commission decisions across the region. He also assists with certification operations, instructor support, and statewide training initiatives as needed.
Ben Smith
Certification Specialist, Region 4 & 2E
ben.smith@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0000 (Office)
Chris Decker serves as the Certification Specialist for Region 5, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. He supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies and procedures, assists with audits, qualification testing, and program oversight, and helps ensure consistent communication of certification standards, program updates, and Commission decisions across the region. He also assists with certification operations, instructor support, and statewide training initiatives as needed.
Chris Decker
Certification Specialist, Region 5
chris.decker@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0000 (Office)
Devin Creech serves as a Certification Specialist, acting as a liaison between the NC Fire and Rescue Commission, delivery agencies, and qualified fire and rescue instructors. She supports delivery agencies in maintaining compliance with state certification policies, assists with audits and program oversight, and ensures consistent communication of decisions and standards across the state. She also assists with the management and security of test banks, helping maintain the integrity and confidentiality of testing materials, and supports accreditation and continuous improvement efforts related to certification and training programs.
Devin Creech
Certification Specialist/Test Bank Manager
devin.creech@ncdoi.gov
919-647-0000 (Office)