Mike is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and currently holds the rank of captain with the Buffalo Fire Department, Truck 11. He is a New York State fire instructor and a member of the development team for New York State firefighter survival and rapid intervention programs. He is an editorial adviser for Fire Engineering magazine, a member of the Advisory Board for FDIC and lead instructor for FDIC live fire training. He is a two time Firehouse Magazine Heroism Award recipient (1988 and 1994) and the recipient of the FDIC 1999 Training Achievement Award. He is an instructor on fire tactics, live fire attack, firefighter survival, and command throughout the United States.