ERRI ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF DONALD H. HIETT JR. AS SENIOR ANALYST
By Steve Macko, Managing Editor

CHICAGO (EmergencyNet News) - Clark Staten, Executive Director of the Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI) today announced the employment and appointment of Donald H. Hiett Jr. to the position of ERRI Senior Analyst. Staten said that the appointment is effective as of March 6, 1998.

According to Staten, Chief Hiett is one of the nation's leading experts regarding Integrated Incident Command Systems, emergency management, large scale events, consequence management, emergency response to terrorist incidents and fire-based EMS programs. "Don Hiett has acquired a wealth of both knowledge and experience in one of the nation's leading emergency service agencies," Staten said. "It goes without saying that Chief Hiett's recent participation as the Fire/Rescue Incident Commander at the 1996 Olympic Centennial Park bombing places him among an elite group of people who have had a close-up and real learning experience regarding the effects of terrorism and how that will impact local emergency service agencies," he added. "We are most pleased to welcome Don Hiett to our organization, and believe that his unique qualities and capabilities will greatly enhance our consulting, management, and training/educational offerings," Staten concluded.

Chief Hiett retired this week from the Atlanta Fire Department with more than 30 years of emergency experience, and will begin his work with ERRI as soon as practically possible. Hiett has served as an member of the EmergencyNet News Editorial Advisory board for the past five years, and also serves on the Editorial Boards of Emergency medical Services Magazine and Responder Magazine. Hiett has also been heavily involved in the International Association of Fire Chief's EMS and Terrorism committees.

Biography of: Donald H. Hiett, Jr., Assistant Fire Chief (Ret.), Atlanta Fire Department

Chief Hiett began his career in the Fire Service and Emergency Medical Service in 1966 when he became a volunteer firefighter in Riverdale, Georgia, and an ambulance attendant for the local County Coroner, who provided the Emergency Ambulance Service.

In 1969, he began his professional career with the Atlanta Fire Department where he served as a firefighter, Acting Fire Apparatus Operator and an acting officer in the downtown stations, as well as the airport stations. With the advent of Advanced Life Support, he became one of the first providers of this service in the early 1970's with the Atlanta Fire Department while stationed at Hartsfield International Airport. After taking his first promotional examination in 1980, he was promoted to the rank of Fire Captain.

Maintaining his Advance Life Support credentials, in 1982, he was appointed to the State Composite Board of Medical Examiners, Paramedic and Cardiac Technician Advisory Committee. In 1985, as a Captain, he was assigned to the Fire Training Academy and was appointed the as Department's Rescue Coordinator. In this position, he was directly responsible for the Fire Rescue Program and its functions within the department. He started the department's First Responder Program, licensed it's units and initiated the Department's full-time involvement in advanced life support in downtown Atlanta. During this time, he assisted in the development of the Atlanta Fire Department's Incident Command System and taught Advanced Emergency Medical Services to providers in the metro Atlanta area fire services. In 1987, he was promoted to Section Chief of Rescue and Safety. As the officer in command of this section, he was responsible for all medical services provided by the Department, along with special events held within the City.

Chief Hiett responds to all second alarm fires and greater, and also has been a sector commander at many of Atlanta's most disastrous events such as the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary incident and the Peachtree and 25th Street fire and was responsible for the medical services provided during the Democratic National Convention. His title was changed to Chief of Special Operations to better fit the functions of his office.

In 1994, he was appointed to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief, where his most important project was heading the Fire/Rescue functions in the 1996 Olympic Games being held in Atlanta. Today, he remains in the Office of Olympic Planning documenting the experience of the Games and preparing for future special events covering the Life Safety effort.

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(c) Copyright, EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1998. All Rights Reserved. May be redistributed at will.

The ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT is a subscription publication of the EmergencyNet NEWS Service, which is a part of the Chicago-based Emergency Response and Research Institute. This publication specializes in Security/ Terrorism/Intelligence/Military and National Security issues.

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