NFPA would like to thank the volunteer committee that helps to maintain the Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) Certification. As a part of the CFPE committee, volunteer members work with NFPA staff to create new exam items, modify existing items to improve performance, and perform cut score studies.
This important work helps ensure the reliability and validity of the CFPE exam. The hard work and dedication of the following individuals, along with the rest of the volunteer committee, is appreciated.
Gabriel Cabrera, CFPE
Sr. Safety Specialist, Fire Safety
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Gabriel Cabrera currently works for UT Southwestern Medical Center. Prior to this position, he worked for the City of Dallasas an assistant fire protection engineer, and before that, Mr. Cabrera worked for a private engineering firm called Fire Escape Engineers, as a private fire inspector. Gabriel also serves as a deputy fire marshal of inspections, responsible for assuring fire and life safety and to reduce the risk of fire loss to the lives and property of the citizens of Kaufman County, the third fastest-growing county in the nation and the second-fastest growing in the state of Texas.
Mr. Cabrera earned various college-level degrees related to the fire protection industry, including a bachelor’s degree in fire protection administration & technology from the California State University of Los Angeles, and two associate’s degrees in fire science and social behavioral science from East Los Angeles College. In addition, Gabriel holds several fire-related certifications: NFPA Certified Fire Plan Examiner, Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Inspector, IFSAC and Pro board Plan Examiner, and National Fire Escape Association, Certified Fire Escape Inspector.
Dennis G. Clark, PE, CFPE
Fire Protection Engineer
City of Sioux Falls, SD
Dennis has been with the City of Sioux Falls for a total of 19 years with the last 6-1/2 years in Sioux Falls Fire Rescue as their Fire Protection Engineer.
Dennis’ certifications include: Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering, Fire Inspector I, Certified Fire Plan Examiner, Certified Fire Protection Specialist, and currently studying to take the Fire Protection Engineering Exam.
Kathy Cline, CFPS, CFPE
City of Boynton Beach, Florida
Fire Marshal
Kathy Cline has been with the City of Boynton Beach for 12 years. For the last seven years, she has been in the life safety division for the Boynton Beach Fire Department. In October 2016, she was promoted to Fire Marshal and works closely and cooperatively with community development staff, building officials, public works department, city engineers, architects, designers, contractors, and the public. The life safety division also performs fire investigations to determine cause & origin, suspected arson, and prepares reports and findings.
Kathy’s certifications and degrees include bachelors of science degree in public safety administration, an associate’s degree in fire science. She also holds the following certifications: Florida State Fire Code Administrator, Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and a Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) through NFPA, Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI), Florida State Fire Investigator I, and Fire Inspector I & II.
Nicholas A. Dawe, CFPE
Division Chief & Fire Marshal
Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services
Nicholas A. Dawe is an experienced division chief that has worked for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services since 2004. The last six years he supervised the existing building division that completes more than 3,000 life safety inspections per year. Prior to that he was the senior fire protection analyst in the plan review division that performs approximately 5,000 various plan reviews and issues 1,500 permits annually.
Nick’s is a certified Georgia Fire Inspector and maintains the National Fire Protection Association’s Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) certification. He also serves on 17 different NFPA technical committees. Over the years he has completed two related engineering technical degrees, a master’s of business administration, and is a graduate of the Harvard, John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.
Tommy Demopoulos, CFPE
Assistant Fire Marshal
Tamarac Fire Department
Tommy Demopoulos currently works for the Tamarac Fire Department as the assistant fire marshal. His main duties consist of completing fire plan reviews and he has been with the city for about seven years. He holds a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), Certified Fire Inspector (CFI) and a Certified Fire Plans Examiner (CFPE) through NFPA as well as a Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI) certification through National Association of Fire Investigators. Tommy also holds a state of Florida Fire Officer 3, Fire Investigator, Inspector 1, Live Fire Training Instructor, Instructor 2, and is a designated Fire Officer (FO) and Fire Marshal (FM) through the CPSE.
Tommy has served on multiple Broward County sub-committees such as the fire watch guidelines, food trucks, hood cleaning certifications and is currently the president for the Fire Inspectors Association of Broward County. He completed his associate’s degree in fire science from St. Petersburg College and is currently underway on his bachelor’s degree in public safety administration.
Sean Eames, CFPE
Fire Inspector and Plan Reviewer
BWI Airport Rescue & Fire Department
Since August 2016, Sean Eames has been working for the BWI Airport Rescue & Fire Department as a fire inspector and plan reviewer in the office of the fire marshal.
Sean’s prior experience includes 27 years working for Prince George’s County. He spent 20 years in the fire/EMS department (PGFD) where he retired as an assistant chief. He served operationally in numerous fire suppression and paramedic assignments, most notably, spending over four years in the PGFD Fire Marshal’s Office first as a captain and then as the assistant chief, managing that office. Since his retirement from the PGFD, Sean has worked seven years as a fire and life safety plan reviewer for the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. He was responsible for reviewing architectural, engineering and fire protection system shop drawings submitted for new buildings, renovations, additions, and tenant fit-outs throughout the county.
Sean has numerous certifications including Certified Fire Protection Specialist, several Plans Examiner certifications and is certified as a fire investigator. He also holds several NICET certifications as well.
Nicholas Eschner, CFPE
Lieutenant
Skokie Fire Department, Skokie, IL
Nicholas Eschner currently works for the Skokie Fire Department (Skokie, IL) as a lieutenant on a fire suppression company. In addition, Mr. Eschner owns and operates Advanced Fire Protection & Safety, Inc. and Plan Review Services. Mr. Eschner has an extensive amount of fire protection experience and fire suppression experience. His fire protection experience ranges from municipal fire prevention bureau experience, to code consulting in a large engineering firm. Mr. Eschner graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in fire protection & safety technology.
Joe Hardin, CFPE
Building Department Inspector 5
City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Joe Hardin has been a state of Michigan inspector since 1999. He is currently registered as building official, building inspector, mechanical inspector, fire protection system inspector, and plan reviewer for all trades, and fire protection. Joe is also a Michigan licensed builder, mechanical contractor, and boiler installer. He is an NFPA Certified Fire Inspector-I (CFI-I) and Certified Fire Inspector-II (CFI-II), as well as a Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE).
Joseph Malkoun, CFPE
Principal Mechanical and Energy Engineer
MEP Engineers, LLC
Joseph Malkoun has more than 30 years of experience in commercial, industrial and institutional design of HVAC, fire protection, plumbing, and power plant design. For the last 14 years, he has been involved in healthcare facility management, project planning, facility operation, life safety, and fire protection.
Joseph currently works for MEP Engineers as a lead mechanical / energy engineer. He was brought in to bolster their mechanical and energy engineering department. During his time at MEP Engineering and throughout his career he has performed many facility condition assessments including assessments for Wayne State University, BCA Stone Crest Hospital, and the GM Tech Center Design Studio.
Joseph received his BSME from Lawrence Technological University and his master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Detroit. He is also a registered professional engineer in the state of Michigan.
Jesse Soares, CFPE
Fire Marshal
Fort Mill South Carolina Fire Department
Jesse Soares has been with the Fort Mill Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office for 2 years. For the last ten years he has been working within the fire prevention community as an assistant fire marshal. Jesse is a veteran, serving in both the navy and army for a total of ten years. He received his bachelor of science from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte for fire safety engineering technology, and is currently working on his master’s in science in leadership from The Citadel.
As the fire marshal for the Fort Mill Fire Marshal’s Office, he is responsible for all fire prevention operations within his jurisdiction, to include, fire plan reviews for all commercial and multi-family structures, fire inspections of all commercial and multi-family structures, fire and life safety education to the community, and fire investigations within the town.
Jesse has several certifications including Certified Plans Examiner (CFPE) through the National Fire Protection Association, he is a certified fire investigator, and also has multiple certifications in fire education, and fire inspection.
Deane E. Walker, CSP, CFPE
Fire Inspector
Grayslake Fire Protection District - Grayslake, Illinois
Mr. Walker is currently appointed to the position of fire inspector for the Grayslake Fire Protection District’s Fire Prevention Bureau. He has more than 34 years of overall work experience including over 23 years of fire service experience in the areas of fire protection, fire prevention, fire & life safety/building code enforcement, fire suppression, and emergency medical services. He has extensive knowledge and experience in health and safety program management and consulting in government, the manufacturing industry, and consulting firms, along with health & safety training, industrial hygiene, and hazardous materials/radiation safety.
Deane earned his B.S. in industrial technology - occupational safety and construction from Illinois State University in 1984 (with honors). His registrations and affiliations include: Certified Fire Plan Examiner - NFPA; Certified Safety Professional - BCSP; Fire Investigator & Fire Prevention Officer - Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal; NFPA, ICC, Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, Grayslake Professional Firefighters Association - Local 4977 / IAFF.