Page 63 - Special Issue Forensic PDF Updated

I N T ER N A T I O N A L S PEA K ER S

O F T H E EV EN T

“Do you have what it takes to become the
best version of yourself”

M r . R o b e r t
Mr. Robert
S Schaal
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T Talk Title : The Role of a Forensic Fire Investigator
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Robert J. Schaal is a Consultant and Forensic Investigator with Gulf Coast Fire Investigation,
Research, and Education, LLC, based in Mandeville, LA. He retired from his position as Assistant
Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives in 2014, after serving ATF for 27 years. He began his career as a field
agent assigned in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1987, and in 1995 he entered the ATF Certified
Fire Investigator Program, which he competed in 1997. He served in a headquarters position
overseeing the bureau’s fire investigation training programs from 2001 – 2005 and
subsequently returning to a supervisory position in the New Orleans Field Division. Throughout
his career he has attended numerous fire investigation training and education seminars and has
coordinated and instructed numerous training programs both inside of United States and
Internationally. He is a life member of the Louisiana Chapter of the International Association of
Arson Investigators previously serving on the Board of Directors and advancing to the position
of Chapter President. He is a life member of the International Association of Arson investigators
and served on the Board of Directors for 11 years, including service as President during
2009/2010. He continues to serve on the steering committee of the IAAI distance learning
initiative CFITrainer.net and has serves as a program development advisor, contributor of
support materials, and a presenter. He has authored a paper distributed on CFITrainer.net
entitled “A Users Guide for the CFI Calculator and Fire Dynamics Equations.” He holds a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

Where Questions Meet Answers

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