SFFMA Certification Board and Zones
The Certification Board is composed of up to 25 members appointed by the SFFMA President, with each serving a four-year term. All nineteen certification zones in the state are represented on the board, with additional liaison positions established on the board that represent key responsibilities and organizations. The board establishes the requirements, guidelines, and policies for the SFFMA certification program, and administers the program. The requirements of the certification program are then implemented by SFFMA staff.
Next Meeting:
Monday, October 21, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
TEAMS
Email for access: certification@sffma.org
The Certification Board is composed of up to 25 members:
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Chairman / Zone 18; EMS Committee Liaison
Andy Dexter
(281) 782-5231
Term ends July 2028 -
Secretary / Zone 14
Brent Allen
(325) 977-8893
Term ends July 2027 -
Zone 01
Brian Scheffer
(979) 337-1212
Term ends July 2026 -
Zone 02
VACANT
Term ends July 2025 -
Zone 03
Jimmy George
(979) 543-3335
Term ends July 2027 -
Zone 04
R. J. Thomas
(361) 523-9447
Term ends July 2026 -
Zone 05
Ubaldo Perez
(956) 279-8056
Term ends July 2028 -
Zone 06
Kendall Hunting
(713) 301-9059
Term ends July 2026 -
Zone 07
Stephen Ewing
(903) 407-3030
Term ends July 2027 -
Zone 08
Patrick Dooley
(903) 646-5609
Term ends July 2027 -
Zone 09
Jeff Ballew
(817) 939-5326
Term ends July 2025 -
Zone 10
Michael Albert
(972) 510-4178
Term ends July 2028 -
Zone 11
Clay Deatherage
(325) 668-0808
Term ends July 2026 -
Zone 12
Alex Smith
(325) 269-1930
Term ends July 2028 -
Zone 13
Nick Barlow
(903) 229-3089
Term ends July 2025 -
Zone 15
Greg Atkinson
(812) 650-2827
Term ends July 2026 -
Zone 16
Jesse Slaughter
(325) 792-6819
Term ends July 2024 -
Zone 17
Roger Esparza
(915) 549-3473
Term ends July 2025 -
Zone 19
Joe Koch
(806) 231-2675
Term ends July 2025 -
Non-Voting Staff Liaison
Kevin Creamer
512.454.3473 x103 -
TEEX Representative
Henry Perry
(979) 500-6810 -
Texas A&M Forest Service Representative
Raymond McDonald
(979) 204-4912 -
Executive Board Liaison
Billy Tidwell
(806) 777-5393 -
Executive Board Liaison
Mark Wobus
(979) 966-8396 -
Past President Liaison
Harvie Cheshire
(979) 324-4336 -
Past President Liaison
Dallas Renfrew
(979) 500-6811
Counties in Each Certification Zone
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Zone 1
Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Burnet, Coryell, Falls, Gillespie, Hamilton, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Travis, Washington, Williamson
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Zone 2
Aransas, Bee, Bexar, Caldwell, Calhoun, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Refugio, Victoria, Wilson
-
Zone 3
Austin, Colorado, Matagorda, Wharton
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Zone 4
Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleburg, Live Oak, Nueces, San Patricio
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Zone 5
Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
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Zone 6
Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, southern half of Harris, Liberty
-
Zone 7
Anderson, Angelina, Freestone, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Walker
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Zone 8
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood
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Zone 9
Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Hill, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant
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Zone 10
Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Knox, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, Young
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Zone 11
Borden, Callahan, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Kent, Lynn, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, Shackelford, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton
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Zone 12
Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hall, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Motley, Parmer, Swisher
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Zone 13
Andrews, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Loving, Martin, Midland, Terry, Upton, Ward, Winkler, Yoakum
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Zone 14
Brown, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Glasscock, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Tom Green
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Zone 15
Atascosa, Bandera, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Zavala
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Zone 16
Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Stephen
-
Zone 17
Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell
-
Zone 18
Grimes, northern half of Harris, Montgomery, Waller
-
Zone 19
Armstrong, Carson, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Robertson, Sherman, Wheeler
Subcommittees
Volunteer Fire Chief | R.J. Thomas, Ubaldo Perez, Billy Tidwell, Brent Allen and Patrick Dooley |
Testing | Board Chair and Executive Board Liaison(s) |
NFPA/Skills Updates | Brian Scheffer, Mark Wobus, Edwin Baker, and Cary Roccaforte |
TEEX Course Breakdowns | Cary Roccaforte, Brent Allen, Andy Dexter, and RJ Thomas |
Continuing Education | Clay Deatherage and Brent Allen |
Fire Department Audit | Clay Deatherage, R.J. Thomas, and Brad Hargrove |
Approved Training Providers | Edwin Baker and Jimmy George |
Skill Examiner Credentials | Andy Dexter, Brad Hargrove, and R.J. Thomas |
Additional Information
Meeting Schedule
E-mail certification@sffma.com for details
How Certification Board members are named
SFFMA Districts submit nominations for Certification Board Zone Representatives to serve four-year terms, subject to the approval of the SFFMA President. To nominate a prospective new Certification Board member, a district must submit the person’s name and resume in writing to the President and Executive Director of the SFFMA.
The President of the SFFMA fills Certification Board vacancies that may occur during unexpired terms.
While some districts (Gulf Coast/Tri-Rivers, Panhandle, and Permian Basin) encompass more than one zone, no two Certification Board members can be from the same zone.
Minimum requirements for Certification Board Zone Representatives
To serve as a Certification Board Zone Representative, individuals must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Reside in the zone to be represented, and be active in that district;
2. Be an active, retired or honorary life member of a regularly organized volunteer or combination fire department that holds current membership in the SFFMA;
3. Maintain a current individual membership in the SFFMA;
4. Have at least eight (8) years of experience with one or more recognized fire departments;
5. Hold at least an SFFMA Firefighter I certification;
6. Meet the instructional criteria for Certification Coordinator; and
7. Attend a majority of Certification Board meetings held each year.