Col. Artem Vlasiuk is currently the Chief of Civil Protection Division of the CBRN Defense Office, the Support Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Col. Vlasiuk has been active duty since 2001, and has developed his CBRN capabilities since. He is a CBRN Defense expert, tactical level – 2006, operational level – 2023. His most recent assignment was in June 2024. 

Colonel Piotr Wachna, PhD, deputy Dean for Military Affairs, Faculty of Advanced Technologies and Chemistry, Military University of Technology, Warsaw. He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 2012. Former battalion commander as well as commander of the 4th Chemical Regiment in Brodnica in 2021-2022. He was a commander Combined Joint CBRN Task Force in NATO Response Forces in two rotation in 2016 and 2020. In 2003-2004 took part in the “Iraq Freedom Operation” mission.

Dr. Andrew Dixon is the Sales Manager at Gasmet Technologies UK Ltd. With over 30 years of experience in the field of gas analysis, Dr. Dixon has established himself as an expert in the industry. He holds a degree in chemistry and a PhD in infrared spectroscopy from Nottingham University in the UK. Throughout his career, Dr. Dixon has made significant contributions to the advancement of gas analysis technologies and has been instrumental in driving the success of Gasmet UK Ltd. Dr. Dixon's commitment to excellence and his passion for the field continue to inspire those around him.

Lieutenant Colonel Erin J. Maurer is the CBRN Defense Lead, J3 Force Protection Directorate, at NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum, The Netherlands, a position she has held since July 2024.

LTC Maurer enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 2004, and upon graduating from Penn State University in 2008, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), branched Chemical Corps. Her assignments include: Brigade Chemical Officer, Company Executive Officer, and Forward Operating Base Operations Officer, for 4^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Headquarters Company Commander, Support Battalion, 1^st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne); AFRICOM/EUCOM Desk Officer, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC); Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer, Special Troops Battalion, 528^th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne); U.S. Army Exchange Officer to the United Kingdom’s Defence CBRN Centre, Winterbourne Gunner, United Kingdom.

LTC Maurer holds a Master Degree in Strategic Security, from the Joint Special Operations program at the National Defense University, completed in 2019, with a defended thesis focused on military response to nuclear terrorism. She has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Chief William Swann | Director Chief | Nashville Fire Department | UNITED STATES

William Swann serves as the Director Chief of the Nashville Fire Department and the Office of Emergency Management, a rank he has proudly held since 2018.

Swann first joined the Nashville Fire Department in 1995 and has worked diligently, moving through every position from firefighter to instructor at the Training Academy to the Deputy Fire Director.

As the Director Chief, Swann has been responsible for leading Nashville’s coordinated emergency response to several disasters, including the March 2020 tornado, the COVID-19 pandemic, the May 2020 Derecho, the Nashville Christmas Day Bombing, the tragic Covenant School Shooting, and the fatal December 2023 tornado. The city’s major planned events also fall under his scope of management, including the 2019 NFL Draft, annual CMA Festivals, 4th of July celebrations, and nationally televised New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Chief Swann enjoys sharing best practices learned from these experiences with others, as highlighted by his invitation to speak at the White House by NATO. He authored a book, “Inspire”, focused on a look at leadership and provides him the opportunity to continue to serve others through teaching and mentoring.

He takes great pride in being active in the community. In addition to supporting several local organizations, Chief Swann teaches several courses including adult leadership, CPR, First-Aid, and Advanced Life Support.

Director Swann and his wife, Connie, have been married since 1989. They live in Nashville with their children and enjoy all the quality time they can share together.

BG Chris A. McKinney, Deputy Director (J5) of Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, USEUCOM, APO, AE

Brigadier General Chris A. McKinney was commissioned in 1993 as a Second Lieutenant and selected for the Corps of Engineers. After serving as an Engineer Platoon Leader with the 201st and 206th Engineer BNs, he reverted to his prior service enlisted/NCO Infantry roots and served as an XO and Company Commander for C Co. 1/151st Infantry. Since then, he has also served assignments in Aviation (BDE XO), Judge Advocate General Corps (CJA), the Military Police Corps (177 MP BDE CDR), and G3 and Chief of Staff for 46 MP Command (2 Star HQs). BG McKinney’s military and federal civilian service spans over thirty years. His repertoire of training and expertise ranges from advanced counter-terrorism experience to service as a military judge.

In 1997 Chris was installed as an FBI Special Agent, where he successfully led undercover cases and served on other high-profile cases. Following his FBI career, Chris became a Senior Associate at a prestigious Kentucky law firm in 2004 and later joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2008. Since then, he has served as a National Security and Intelligence Senior Attorney for DHS (currently on Military LWOP while serving on extended Active Duty).

During his tenure as Commander, 177 MP BDE, he led the Brigade and Joint Task Force (JTF) Tiger through statewide COVID-19 responses including: for historic Midland Michigan flooding, civil disturbance actions throughout Michigan and Kenosha, WI, USVI Hurricane response preparation and led 2 separate JTF’s during the 59th Presidential Inauguration (TF Response-13 state element) and Operational Capitol Response II (TF Independence-20 state element). He simultaneously served as the Program Manager (PM) and Director for USNORTHCOM’s C2CRE-B mission, overseeing the readiness, resources and transition of units from 17 different states. McKinney most recently completed his deployment with 46 MPC, who was assigned USARNORTH responsibility for nationwide COVID sites in 5 FEMA regions, which had C2 of T10 COVAX operations.

Following command, he served as Chief of Staff for the 46th MP Command as well as the PM and Director for NORTHCOM’s C2CRE-B. Chris attended undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy and the University of Kentucky. Chris also holds a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky, as well as a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (Distinguished Graduate).

His top federal awards and decorations include Legion of Merit Medal (bronze oak leaf cluster (OLC), Bronze Star Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (bronze OLC), He has also received military and civilian awards from 19 different states and territories.

Colonel Oliver Toderiska is head of the CBRN Corps of the Slovak Armed Forces. During the 2^nd Iraq War, in 2003, he was in the Czech and Slovak CBRN protection battalion, and later served in Kosovo in the J3 Conops cell as a specialist officer. He became Chief of the CBRN lab in 2010, and the full time CBRN battalion commander in 2012-2020, which included a tour as Commander of SLOVCON in Afghanistan in 2017. Since 2021 he has been head of the CBRN Corps, which has included managing CBRN Live Agent Training, dealing with special Environmental CSI, an SME for special chemical technology development and management of CBRN search and rescue operations.

He has a Diploma in Disaster Preparedness and another in CBRN recce specialist from Fort Leonard Wood, Officer and graduated from the CBRN branch of the military college with a diploma in 1990.

He is married with two adult kids, a grand child and a 17 year old miniature Labrador!

Professor Renato Bonora has been affiliated with the University of Padua since 1993. He holds a degree and a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has dedicated his career to research and teaching, with a focus on contaminated site reclamation, safety, and risk analysis.

An expert in CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) defence, particularly in decontamination science and technology, Professor Renato Bonora collaborates with Cristanini S.p.A. for many years in developing advanced decontamination technologies. His research has led to the creation of state-of-the-art CBRN decontamination systems, including BX24, SX34, and LDVx, designed to remove and neutralize chemical, biological, and radiological warfare agents.

He has also delivered lectures on CBRN decontamination at prestigious institutions, including NATO bodies and various military and civil agencies worldwide. Additionally, he is actively involved in developing technologies for the disposal of conventional and specialized munitions and holds several patents in this field. His innovations have contributed to the construction of specialized plants for munitions and explosives disposal in Italy and abroad.

Professor Renato Bonora remains actively engaged in CBRN decontamination research and development, striving to foresee and address future challenges and requirements.

Dariusz Packi (DHP Safety) is a former Merchant Navy officer with extensive practical knowledge of life-saving and rescue equipment. Throughout his 25-year career in the Personal Protective Equipment industry for HAZMAT and CBRNe scenarios, Dariusz has gained significant expertise and industry insights. His experience combines a solid understanding of protective equipment with a proven ability to deliver reliable solutions. Furthermore, Dariusz has been a long-term advisor to PPE design teams, as well as to the Department of Disaster and Emergency Medicine at Jagiellonian University Medical College, further enhancing his skills in the field.