Mitch Gill, K7TUT, will lead a discussion on the installation and usage of NVIS (near-vertical incident skywave) antennas for emergency communciations.

  Mitch has more than 15 years experience in the high-tech industry. Mitch also spent more than 10 years in communications in the United States Air Force. While in the USAF he served as NCOIC of MARS, European MARS Director, Frequency Manager, IntraBase Radio Manager, Public Affairs NCO, and an Affiliate MARS operator. While serving in West Germany, Mitch was also in charge of all communications for the return of the 52 hostages from Iran for which he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. In the high-tech industry he has held positions as Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and Eastern US Manager.

Presently Mitch is a volunteer instructor teaching Ham Radio to more than 30 students as well as Technical Committee Chairman for the Mike and Key ARC, Operations Coordinator for King County ARES, Team member of the Maple Valley ARES group, freelance writer, and member of the Board of Directors of Pyr Systems Inc. Mitch was originally licensed in 1970 as WN4TUT and is now working toward his Amateur Extra. Presently Mitch is unemployed living in Ravensdale with his wife Jan and youngest son Tyler (KD7MJO).

Carlos Smith, AA7SB, played with Archer Children's Band HTs as a kid. He has served as a US Coast Guard Radioman from 1974 to 1980 aboard icebreaker USCGC Polar Star and a Radio/Electronics Officer, Department of Commerce/NOAA, from 1982 to 1988. He is currently Tech Coordinator for FAA National Airspace System Implementation Center, Seattle, WA.

Allan Kush, WV7R, is currently Radio Officer for the Western Washington Medical Services COmmunications Team. He is past State Director, Wasshington State Army MARS. He has trained ARMY MARS members in Net operations, message handling and formats.

This session will focus on the three earthquakes sources in Cascadia, evidence for past earthquakes for each of these sources, and what these past earthquakes tell us about future earthquake hazards in Western Washington.

Brian Sherrod, graduated with a BS in Geology and Anthropology from James Madison University in Virginia, and then earned an M.S. in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh with a thesis on lake history in Yellowstone National Park. Sherrod earned his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington in 1998. He's been working on the paleoseimology of the Puget Lowland since 1994. He currently works for the USGS.

Dominic Marzano is Assistant Chief of the Kent (WA) Fire Department and is a 23-year veteran of the fire service. He has held various positions in emergency management including disaster planning, EOC development and instruction, ICS instruction, family protection planning, terrorism awareness, and fire department operations at catastrophic events.

Chief Marzano is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program. Additionally, Chief Marzano is a Certified Safety Officer and State of Washington DEM CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor.

Chief Marzano is a Task Force Leader with the Washington State FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Team -- WATF-1. He has also served as a Safety Officer with the FEMA Urban Search & Rescue system, Incident Support Team. Chief Marzano has participated in or had direct contact with personnel and affected citizens in the Northridge Earthquake, Southern California Wildfires, Oklahoma City Bombing, and Midwest Floods. Chief Marzano was a member of the deployment teams to the DeBruce Grain Elevator event in Haysville, Kansas, Hurricane Georges, and most recently was the night operations incident commander at the World Trade Center attack response. Along with these classes and accomplishments, Assistant Chief Marzano has had training in advanced disaster rescue techniques, practices, and management.

Repeat of Session 05 on Saturday.

Catering will be available for those who sign up in advance. Cost is $7.00. More information to come. Should you wish to forego the catered lunch, you may wish to consider a sack lunch each day, as there are no restaurants near NOAA. There are a few restaurants about eight minutes drive from NOAA.

Amateur radio is always there in emergencies, but often hams are not trained, are unfamiliar with procedures, and work in isolation from the groups for which they provide communications. Hams often fail to prepare for the numerous small events that occur on an annual basis. What hams do on a daily basis is what they will do in an emergency -- even if they know better!

TopHat is an amateur radio communications contest designed to test procedures, hams, and training. Based on an actual event, rather than a "what if" scenario, TopHat 2001 had 140+ amateurs from 13 municipalities manning 42 stations.

With TopHat 2002 on April 6th, speaker Tom Cox, VE7TOX, will cover goals, design issues, scoring and outside involvement in designing a regional training exercise. Tom is a volunteer with the Vancouver, B.C., Emergency Program and has been a ham for seven years.His work with first aid, emergency social services, and the Vancouver Disaster Assistance team brought him in contact with VECTOR -- Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organisation -- which provides amateur radio support for the City of Vancouver.He is active in net control, special events, and training with VECTOR. He chaired the TopHat 2001 Communications Contest.

Ralph Javins, N7KGA. will discuss and demonstrate packaging and setup techniques up field operations using equipment on hand. Bring your portable radio and antenna. He will also discuss mobile radio installation into a vehicle, power management, antenna placement, etc. Ralph has been a licensed Amateur Radio operator since 1955, first getting his license in Hawaii. He previously built satellites for the US Navy Research Lab. He currently is a traffic signal technician for the Washington State Dept of Transportation, responsible for the single most-hated traffic signal in Washington - Highway 2 in Sultan.

Mario Badua will show custom kits for both digital and ATV set ups.

Session 22: Emergency Communications Course Examination

Exam for session 05 and repeats in 08, 17. Fee involved. Information to come.