Fireground Accountability

Dr. Joe Bonnell has served the Phoenix Fire Department for over 20 years and currently supports the Operations Division as a Captain/Paramedic. As a professor with the Maricopa Community Colleges, he teaches multiple courses in the Emergency Management program and serves as the Co-Chair of the Paradise Valley Community College Curriculum Development Committee where he is involved in the development and design of an accredited Chief Officer Leadership program for several higher education learning institutions. Additionally, Dr. Bonnell is a Research Affiliate at the Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy at Arizona State University and specializes in firefighter examination.

As an expert on public safety, Dr. Bonnell’s research centers on organizational and task-related factors that impact skill degradation and retainment, operational systems used in the fire service, environmental factors in which firefighters operate, firefighter LODDs, and incident command training.

He holds numerous professional certifications including Nationally Certified Hazardous Materials Technician (NFPA 472), Nationally Certified Technical Rescue Technician (NFPA 1006), Terrorism Liaison Officer, and holds the Incident Safety Officer Systems Curriculum Credential (ISOS 1521). Dr. Bonnell has published and presented his research on fireground training and skill decay at international conferences including Fire-Rescue International (FRI). He has a B.S. in Business Administration, an M.S. in Fitness and Health Management, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, with emphasis in Emergency Management. 

Jeff Cash, CFO, has over 43 years in the fire service and is the retired City Manager/Fire Chief of the City of Cherryville, North Carolina, his hometown. Currently, Chief Cash serves as the Training and Education Coordinator for Volunteer Fire Insurance Services of North Carolina (VFIS of NC).  Jeff also serves in the track services division, including fire protection/emergency medical services for the Speedway Motor Sports, (Charlotte Motor Speedway). He holds a degree in Fire Protection. He is a Past President of the NC State Firefighters Association. He has received the following recognitions: Cherryville FD Firefighter of the Year, Western NC Association Fire Officer of the Year, NCSFA Firefighter of the Year, NC Association of Fire Chief’s Career Chief of the Year, NC Society of Fire & Rescue Instructors, Instructor of the Year, the IAFC-VCOS-John Buckman Leadership Award, and the NVFC-James Monihan Leadership Award.  He also received the North Carolina American Legion Fire Service Person of the Year Award. Recently, upon his retirement, he was awarded the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper.

He served on the Executive Committee (Secretary-Treasurer) of the National Volunteer Fire Council as North Carolina’s Director. Chief Cash is a previous member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors. He also served as a principal committee member of NFPA 1021 and a Board member of the IAFC-Safety Health & Survival Section (NVFC Liaison).  He is an active fire service instructor, teaching since 1983. Chief Cash has testified twice before US Congressional Committees on Fire Service issues.  Chief Cash has spoken or taught in 36 states. Chief Cash also serves on the Caromont Health System Board of Directors, as Chairman.