Sample Resume

interFIRE VR has provided a sample resume as a guideline for preparation of a resume or CV for expert testimony.

Detective Lieutenant John Q. Flashover, Ohio State Police

Commanding Officer, Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit
Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office
1 State Capitol Square
Anytown, OH 12345-6789
Office: (999) 555-5555

Experience:

1976-1979 Electrical Contractor. Bob's Electrical and HVAC Repair. Sometown, OH. Duties as a licensed journeyman electrician included on-site wiring & maintenance of electrical systems and evaluation and repair of HVAC systems.

1979-1983 Ohio State Police - Uniformed Patrol Division.

1983-1986 Detective Division, Ohio State Police. Assigned to Violent Crime Unit. Duties included the investigation of homicides in cooperation with municipal, state and federal law enforcement and authorities in adjoining states.

1986-1990 Lieutenant, Ohio State Police. Assigned to the Capitol City Arson Task Force participating in fire and explosion investigations as a member of the Capitol City Fire & Police, state police and AFT joint agency arson task force. Duties involved the investigation of fires & explosions origin and cause determination, on-scene investigation including witness interviewing, crime scene photography and post-scene follow-up investigation. Specialized in the elimination of accidental electrical causes. Lead investigator in the Walford Mills fire and the Fun 'N Fancy arson fraud investigation.

1990-1996 Lieutenant, Ohio State Police. Assigned to the Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, State Fire Marshal's Office. Duties included assisting municipal, state and federal fire investigators within the Central County jurisdiction on a 24 hour basis with investigation of fire & explosion incidents including origin and cause determination, on-scene investigation to include witness interviewing, fire scene photography & evidence technician specialist and post-scene follow-up investigation. In 1991 became a member of the specialized joint agency post - blast investigation unit. Developed a secondary specialty in interrogation. Worked on an average of 60 fire/arson cases per year. Six year county arson case-clearance rate average of 52% resulting in an average of 25 convictions for arson and arson-related crimes per year.

1996-present: Detective Lieutenant and Commanding Officer, Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, State Fire Marshal's Office. Principle duty involves daily supervision of 20 State Fire Marshal investigators working within organized fire & arson investigation teams along with municipal and federal authorities statewide. Secondary duties include assigning & reviewing case reports, overseeing budgeting and fiscal management of the Unit & training. Major achievements included instituting new "team approach" for cooperation with local fire service and police and ATF investigators, refitting Fire Marshal response vehicles with new investigative tool kits & support equipment and creating professional development plans for all Unit investigators.

Formal Education:

Graduated Worthington Senior High School in Hometown, OH in June 1976.

Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Essex College in Anytown, OH.

Advanced Training:

• IAAI Certified Fire Investigator (CFI). Certification received in 1987. Renewed in 1992 and 1997.
• Attended National Fire Academy 2 week course, "Fire and Arson Investigation" in September of 1985.
• Attended Middlesex County Community College 1 semester 3 credit course, "Investigation of Fires" in the Spring semester of 1986.
• Attended National Fire Academy 2-week course, "Management for Arson Prevention and Control" in April of 1989.
• Attended State Arson Investigators Association in-service school on "Post-Blast Investigation" in May of 1991.
• Trained in the "Carson method" of witness interviewing at 1 week inservice given by Johnson & Smith in March of 1992.
• Attended Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 2 week course, "Advanced Arson-for-Profit Investigation" in October of 1996.
• Attended Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 2 week course, "Advanced Cause and Origin/Court Techniques" course in March of 1998.

Publications:

Flashover, John Q. "Zap! Electrical Hazards at the Fire Scene." Published in Where There's Smoke...A Quarterly Journal on Fire. July 1992.

Flashover, John Q. ""Is that a Spark I See Before Me?: The Elimination of Accidental Fire Causes."" Published in Electrical and Appliance Fire Newsletter. March 1994.

Flashover, John Q. and Burns, Paul C. "TQM and the Interagency Team Concept: Lessons for Commanding Officers." Published in Management and Investigation Monthly. November 1998.

Currently contributing a chapter on incendiary fires made to look like electrical accidents to "Case Studies in Cause and Origin." Edited by Mary Flaming. Book forthcoming from Roaring Technical Press in late 1999.

Professional Affiliations

International Association of Arson Investigators

National Association of Fire Investigators

National Association of State Police Officers

Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Expert Testimony Experience

Investigated over 800 fire cases since 1986. Have made origin and cause determinations in about 75-80% of these cases. Have been called to give sworn testimony about 160 times. Qualified as Expert Witness in 102 cases since 1986 in state and federal court jurisdictions throughout Ohio. List available upon request.