Instructor Bio | Tim Klett is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and recently retired from his position as a Lieutenant with FDNY serving on 88 Engine, located in the 7th Division in the Bronx. As an FDNY firefighter, Tim spent 12 years on 69 Engine, one of the FDNY’s busiest Engines located in Harlem, prior to his promotion. Tim developed the Engine Company Operations course for the Fire Department Training Network and serves as the lead engine instructor at the FDTN Academy.

In addition to being a frequent contributor to FDTN’s Fire Training, Tim has written many articles for Fire Engineering, Firehouse, Firehouse.com, and the New York State Fire Chief’s Association Size-Up. Tim is also the author of Stretching and Operating the First Line and the upcoming Standpipe Operations for Engine Companies, both part of FDTN’s FireNotes series of training manuals.

Instructor Bio | Keith Stakes is a member of the Underwriters Laboratories – Fire Safety Research Institute. As a Fire Protection Engineer, he studies the effectiveness of fire service tactics as well as advances in firefighter safety and fireground operations. He has both a Bachelor of Science Degree as well as a Master of Engineering Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. Keith has over 15 years of fire service experience as a firefighter with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Bethesda, Maryland where he currently holds the rank of Fire/Rescue Battalion Chief. Keith continues to serve on the NFPA Technical Committee for Fire Service Training and the Editorial Advisory Board for FireRescue1 and Fire Chief magazine.

Instructor Bio | Dennis is a retired Captain of the Oakland, CA Fire Department. During his career, Dennis was an integral part of the team that implemented a new engine configuration for the Oakland Fire Department as the water supply officer. After his retirement, he continued to pursue this role as a consultant for other fire departments.

Dennis has provided technical advice to some of the largest fire agencies in the nation including, Portland, Seattle, Boston, and the City of New York. Dennis consulted with water municipalities assisting in the development of emergency response plans for a variety of water infrastructure problems related to seismic events and other disasters.

Dennis also has played a key role for the fire service on a national level participating in UL studies on fire streams and providing technical knowledge for Pennwell publications and NFPA standards.

Instructor Bio | Chief Hoff started his career in the Fire Service as a Cadet with the Evergreen Park Illinois Fire Department in 1972. In 1976, he was hired as an EMT with the Chicago Fire Department and in 1977 he entered the Chicago Fire Academy as an FF/EMT. Bob served on some of Chicago’s busiest fire companies throughout his career.

He worked in the Bureau of Operations as an FF/EMT, Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief before being assigned as the Director of Training for the CFD. His next assignment was as the 1st District Chief in Chicago’s downtown high-rise district. He went on to become the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Operations, 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner and Fire Commissioner. He retired from the CFD in 2012 after 35 ½ years of service. Bob then went on to serve as the Deputy Chief and Chief of the Carol Stream Illinois Fire District until his retirement on January 1, 2020.

Chief Hoff is a current Field Staff Instructor for the State of Illinois Fire Academy at the University of Illinois-Champaign, IL (32 years). Has instructed the following courses: Fire Officers Strategy and Tactics 1&2, Company Officer Leadership, Fireground Company Officer and Command School, Rapid Intervention Team Training, “RIT Under Fire” team training; Structural Collapse Operations and Technician; Engine Co., Truck Co., Squad Co., and Snorkel Co. operations; Forcible Entry; Auto Extrication; Smoke Divers; F.A.S.T. School, High Rise firefighting tactics for large and small departments; High Rise Incident Command for large and small departments; High Rise building systems; Chief Officer Fireground Command Positions course. Bob has instructed many of these classes in Illinois and throughout the country.

Instructor Bio | Dennis Reilly is a Fire Chief with the City of Pittsburg, KS Fire Department. Chief Reilly has been involved with municipal fire protection for over forty years, with over twenty years as a Chief Officer. He is a dynamic self-starter who is very comfortable working in challenging and ambiguous situations. Chief Reilly’s work record shows a consistent ability to exceed what is expected of him. He is a solid team builder and a team member.

Chief Reilly is also a US Army veteran who deployed as part of Operation Desert Storm. After retiring from the Cherry Hill Fire Department he spent three years as a private security contractor working in support of the US State Department in Iraq and Afghanistan. All of these experiences have refined his abilities to work in culturally diverse, multi-organizational environments.