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THE STAFF
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Doug Bryson, CEM
Director, Emergency Services
Appointed Emergency Management Coordinator on July 9, 2005, Mr. Bryson brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences in law enforcement and emergency services. Prior to his role as Emergency Management Coordinator, Mr. Bryson served with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for fourteen (14) years. In 2003, he was named the Supervisor-of-the-Year for the Sheriff's Office.
While at the Sheriff's Office, Mr. Bryson was instrumental in the development and implementation of the county-wide School Resource Officer program at area school districts. Additionally, while supervising the activities of the crime prevention program, he was able to forge numerous relationships within private industry. Since arriving with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has continued to foster relationships with such entities as: SCEMD, DHEC, Spartanburg Regional, National Weather Service, and numerous other local, state, federal and private agencies.
While with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has received his BS degree in Emergency Disaster Management from Western Carolina University, his Certified Emergency Manager from the South Carolina Emergency Management Association (SCEMA), and and his CEM from the International Association of Emergency Managers. In addition, Mr. Bryson is a member of the Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2012, on the security committee for the South Carolina Association of Counties, and has served numerous roles with the International Association of Emergency Managers. Starting in 2022 Mr. Bryson was promoted to the new position of Emergency Services Director where he oversees Emergency Management, the Emergency Services Academy, and the Fire Coordinator Sections. In his spare time, Mr. Bryson enjoys spending time with his family, landscaping and travel.
Lucie Belzil
Administrative Specialist/Deputy CERT/SCSAR Coordinator
Lucie graduated with a physical therapy degree in 1991 from Laval University in Quebec, Canada. After 8 years in Florida, she moved to Fletcher NC in 2000 where she worked as a physical therapist in skilled nursing facilities and in home health She also has her own business as a personal trainer/ medical exercise specialist with specialization in fitness and fall prevention for older adults. Her interest in geriatric welfare extends into a motivation for further involvement in missing person with dementia. She also has years of experience with autistic children in a therapeutic horseback riding program where she was an instructor.
Lucie began her journey with K9 SAR with her dog Milo in 2017, joined an affiliated team in the fall of 2018 and officially became part of Spartanburg County Search and Rescue in June 2019. She has been engaged in trailing, air scent and HRD and she has participated in numerous searches. She is a certified “ NC Land Search Team Member” and NASAR SARII certified. She has been involved as a volunteer in many of our CERT functions, including support, distribution and shelter.
In 2022 Lucie officially joined the staff where she continues doing many of the duties she once volunteered for with the additional responsibilities associated with all 3 sections of Emergency Services. Lucie is married to Edwin, one of the team’s drone pilots. They have 2 children, Kevin is an electrician apprentice and Ian is a Army Combat Medic stationed in Germany.
Lucie and Edwin enjoy hiking, kayaking and traveling in their DIY converted van.
Robbie Swofford
Emergency Management Coordinator
A native of Spartanburg County, Robbie Swofford is a graduate of Chapman High School, Wofford College (BA History and Government - Cum Laude), and Clemson University (MPA). He has been employed with the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management for 21 years.
During his 21-year tenure, he has spent almost 19 of these years coordinating the CERT program. From a Basic CERT program has spawned an Advanced CERT initiative comprised of the following 5 divisions: Spartanburg County Search and Rescue, Spartanburg County Support Services, Spartanburg County Sheltering, Spartanburg County DART, and Spartanburg County Emergency Communications. In addition to coordinating these initiatives, Swofford is hands on in all other departmental functions/activities while also being a loving husband and father of 4 beautiful girls.
Family, SAR, CERT, VOAD, and just Community are of some of Swofford's passions. He is also a closet IMT geek, having taken All Hazards IMT training and Managing Search operations on numerous occasions. In addition, Mr. Swofford is a Part 107 Drone Pilot, has his SC CEM, and is an AMPWDA Nationally Certified K9 Handler with K9 Brodie in the discipline of Live FInd Air Scent. During his tenure with EM, Swofford has been through 4 Presidentially declared disasters, responded to 100+ searches, and helped coordinate 20+ shelter operations.
Beginning in 2022, Mr Swofford became the EM Coordinator and the SR EM Specialist joined the team. With Mike, Lucie and all of our dedicated volunteers, the EM Division strives to be the most active in the State.
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Mike Brown
Senior EM Specialist
Mike Brown joined the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management as the Senior Emergency Management Specialist in April of 2022. His duties include All Hazards Planning, Grants Management, Training, and Exercise Coordination.
Prior to joining the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management, Mike spent over a decade in private industry, before beginning his emergency management career with Greenville County Emergency Management. Afterwards, Mike worked at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and responded to Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. For his work during the latter, he was awarded the South Carolina State Achievement Ribbon from the South Carolina Military Department. Mike earned an Associates of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) in Political Science with a minor in Homeland Security followed by a Master of Arts in Security Studies where his thesis research focused on future socio-political instability in the United States.
Willam Ale
Fire Services Coordinator
Chief William Ale became the Fire Services Coordinator in February 2024 last serving as the Fire Chief at the North Spartanburg Fire and Emergency Services District. He has over 45 years of fire service experience. Beginning in 1977 as a firefighter/EMT in Montgomery County, MD, he has also served as the fire chief for the cities of Spartanburg and Greenville, NC.
Bill has been a member of the 1% Supervisory Committee for four years. Bill is married to Nancy and has two sons, one daughter, and three grandchildren. Ours is a house divided with one son being a Clemson graduate and our daughter attending the University of South Carolina. Bill is an avid college football fan who follows his alma mater, the Maryland Terps, Clemson, the Gamecocks, and all SEC teams.
Robert Yonas
HazMat Coordinator
Experienced Emergency Services Professional with more than 5 decades of service. Retried from the Unites States Secret Service as an EMT & paramedic instructor, HAMMER instructor, hazardous materials instructor, tactical paramedic, specialist in weapons of mass destruction, tactical casualty combat care and austere medicine. Prior federal law enforcement service as a supervisor for the Hazardous Materials Response Team and a Haz Mat / WMD Specialist with the United States Capitol Police.
Beginning my career in emergency services in 1972 as a volunteer firefighter, I am a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Norrisville Volunteer Fire Company in Harford County, Maryland. Charter Member, Life Member and Past Chief. I was also a fire Captain with the Mount Holly Fire Department and continue to work with the Saluda Fire & Rescue Department.
Published author, contributing to the Hazardous Material Accidents and Weapons chapter to the text book – “Law Enforcement Responder” –published by Jones and Bartlett. This text book is specific for the first responders serving in law enforcement and provides a committed approach to training emergency medicine.
Certified firearms instructor and an armorer for numerous weapons platforms. Extensive experience in firearms training and acomplished with multiple weapon platforms.
Decorated veteran of the emergency services, receiving a Bronze Star for Valor, numerous commendations and unit citations from both my volunteer and law enforcement careers.
Rebecca Craig, NRP, FP-C
HazMat Contractor
With over 30 years in emergency Services, Rebecca Craig has continued to influence and encourage growth and education for responders. She retired from the Rock Hill South Carolina Fire Department with 27 years in the State. During that time, she helped shape and drive the HAZMAT division and the recruit program. She helped form build the Hazmat Team for York County, SC. She joined the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) as a paramedic with the National Medical Response Team – East (NMRT-E) and later the North Carolina 1 DMAT. She has sat on federal committees for the response to WMD and HAZMAT events for Health and Human Services. She also assisted in teaching Federal officers PPE requirements and proper donning & doffing. She was one of the founding members of the Department of Homeland Security. She has sat on the South Carolina HAZMAT Task force committee and curriculum committee. She was one of a few clinicians who worked and developed the Critical care protocols for the State of South Carolina. At Air Methods she was a flight paramedic and later part of the critical care education team for the international air medical company. She assisted in developing a critical care curriculum and education enrichment items. As part of the education team, she developed simulation scenarios for education and ran cadaver & airway labs throughout the country. Rebecca was on the Safety Committee at the McMurdo Base in Antarctica while operating as the bases firefighter flight paramedic. Rebecca is now the hazmat coordinator for Spartanburg County operating as the hazmat chief on hazmat responses. She conducts training for local fire departments to the state and federal compliance standards. She is excited to grow the Hazmat team as Spartanburg County continues to grow.
Joel Lynn
ESA Coordinator
Allen Ray
Senior Training Specialist
© 2024 by Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Services