You know the new simulator is a powerful learning tool – you just somehow have to learn to use it to its full potential to achieve your training goals.

 

That is where the FAAC Specialists – the brightest among the best – bring their years of professional experience and mastery to you and your training program. Each of FAAC’s specialists has proven the results of his simulator training program.

The Specialists Program, a part of FAAC’s Customer for Life philosophy, was created to bridge the gap between a basic understanding of simulator system operation and mastery of it as an educational tool.

FAAC’s specialists are experts in the art and science of simulator instruction. They each have pioneered simulation training, not only in their own agencies but in their respective industries as well.

Their belief in and passion for simulator training has followed them from their first careers into a partnership with FAAC to act as mentors, problem-solvers, instructors, speakers, and writers. Their charter is to educate others on the power of simulation training.

 

Specialties include:

• New instructor assimilation
• Curriculum development / integration
• Specific problem-solving strategies
• Mentoring
• Executive presentations
• Speaking and writing

 

MEET THE FAAC SPECIALISTS

Training Group Lead

Chuck Deakins
Mr. Deakins is a recently retired law enforcement officer from Santa Ana, California. He served 28 years with the department of 400 officers working a variety of assignments. Mr. Deakins has been involved in the CaPOST Regional Skills Training Centers program since 1999. The program has 108 driving simulators and 24 force-option simulators. He has personally instructed more than 1,300 students in driving simulators and is the primary instructor for the Train the Trainer basic operation training of the driving simulators at all 24 California regional training sites. He serves as an advisor on the curriculum development and scenario development committees. He continues to instruct at law enforcement agencies and academies on the local level as well as making presentations at conferences throughout the country, including ILEETA and ALERT International. Mr. Deakins is a masterful instructor who’s forte’ is in his ability to assess his classes and adjust on the fly to enable all groups to get the most from his presentations. His knowledge of simulator training strategies, tactics, techniques, and methods are why he is such a successful cross-over trainer in all applications of simulation instruction.

 

FAAC Subject Matter Specialists

Paul Becotte
Mr. Becotte is a retired police officer from San Diego, Ca. where he spent over 30 years, retiring as a Sergeant in charge of Emergency Vehicle Operations training.  He has been a driving instructor at the San Diego Regional Public Safety Training Center for the last 26 years. Mr. Becotte has been a Driving Simulator Training instructor since 2000.  He was on the California Peace Officer Standards and Training committees that developed the curriculum for the driving simulator training used in the academies and in-service training.  He has conducted Train the Trainers classes throughout California as a California POST instructor and throughout the United States as a Simulation Specialist for FAAC.

 

James D’Alonzo
Mr. D’Alonzo is an active law enforcement officer in New Jersey, with 20 years of experience.  He has been involved with several specialized units, including the motor unit, SWAT Team, bicycle unit, team supervisor for the accident crash investigation unit, and established and heads the Community Service Unit.  Mr. D’Alonzo is the lead training officer in his department, where he is tasked with developing and implementing training that includes, firearms qualifications, policy reviews, officer safety training, baton training, handcuffing, OC training, Taser training, room/building clearing, application of tourniquets, and active shooter training. He is an instructor at the police academy for firearms, officer survival, driving simulation, and the use of force simulator (MILO). Mr. D’Alonzo specializes in Train-the-Trainer basic operation training of the FAAC driving simulators, Driving Force, and is crossed trained in EMS.

 

Philip Duczyminski 
Mr. Duczyminski is a 25-year veteran of the fire service, a captain, and the head of the Training Division of the Novi (MI) Fire Department. He has served with the Western Wayne County Haz-Mat Team and MI-TF1 as a Hazardous Materials Specialist. A graduate of the School of Fire Staff and Command at Eastern Michigan University, Mr. Duczyminski is a certified Michigan fire instructor and an EMS instructor coordinator. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Master’s of Business Administration, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration. Mr. Duczyminski has numerous articles published in professional publications and has presented at local and national conferences. One of his more recent publications focuses on what he believes is one of the most important aspects of teaching, and that is reaching the affective domain of learning.  He believes that the utilization of simulation-based training can help students reach this domain of learning.

 

Robert Raheb
Mr. Raheb has been in the EMS field for over 30 years.  Starting out as a Firefighter in Southern California and has been a paramedic in New York City and a New York State Instructor Coordinator for over 25 years.  Rob was the Lieutenant in charge of the driver training program and has made some milestones in a curriculum that has translated into major reductions in collisions, especially intersection collisions.

Introduced to driver simulation training in 2003, Rob Raheb was bitten by the bug and “just got it”.  Realizing the benefits and potential training abilities this high-tech tool held, simulation training has added a new and exciting dimension to his vehicle training program and those benefits were obtained with a 38% reduction in intersection collisions within the first year and a steady decline every year since.

In 2009, Rob Raheb retired from FDNY and accepted a position as a Subject Matter Specialist in the field of simulation training with FAAC, Inc.  Rob Raheb continues to help develop curriculum and lectures on the benefits of simulation training and is a member of the NFPA Fire Service Training Committee.  Rob Raheb has had articles on simulation training published in national trade magazines and has been cited in several studies. Rob Raheb is a co-author of an internationally published book on EMS Vehicle Operations and currently lectures at national conferences.

 

Russell Young
Mr. Young is a Retired Battalion Chief and Assistant Training Officer for the Orem Fire Department, in Orem Utah, where he was responsible for Extrication/Heavy Rescue and Ambulance driving operations. Mr. Young is the Chief of the Duchesne Fire Department, in Duchesne Utah, and has been a Paramedic for over 25 years. Young has an A.S. in Fire Science, B.S. in Emergency Services Management and is currently completing his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He has over 28 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services.

 

 

Content & Editorial Policy

The intent of the FAAC Incorporated website is to provide useful and relevant information about FAAC products, as well as about simulation training and research topics. FAAC employs industry experts with years of experience in simulation training and research. These specialists review and approve all core information that appears on the FAAC website, following this content creation and approval process:

• A professional writer interviews the specialists on the FAAC staff to derive facts, opinions, and context that is relevant to FAAC’s audience.
• The writer then creates a first draft of the blog post or page and submits it to the specialist to have the core content approved.
• FAAC’s marketing team may also suggest improvements to the messaging, formatting, or structure of the content.
• Any corrections are incorporated into the content, and the content is then scheduled for publication on the FAAC site.

FAAC is committed to making corrections and clarifications in our content, should any issue come to light. If you believe any of the information on this site may be in error, feel free to give us a call at (734) 547-6843 or by using our contact form here. We appreciate your help in maintaining the integrity of our content.