Officers & Directors
Chairman – Mark Donald. Mark is a physician assistant, author, professional speaker and leader in the non-profit community. Born to Mexican mother and Caucasian father Mark grew up appreciating the value of ethnic diversity. Inspired by his parent’s ideals for “service for others before self,” and a desire to escape the difficulties of home Mark enlisted in the Marine Corps at the early age of 17.
It was during his training as a Reconnaissance Marine he discovered his calling to medicine and by the end of year would don a Navy uniform. Mark continued to serve the country for nearly a quarter of century as a Navy SEAL, Corpsman and Medical Service Corps officer. Following retirement Mark worked with a number of programs supporting military, veteran and wounded causes while completing his memoir Battle Ready – Memoir of a SEAL Warrior Medic. Mark has served as Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart for the Commonwealth of Virginia and sat on the board of directors for the Legion of Valor, OASIS Group and the Special Operations Medical Association. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska. His military decorations include the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with “V” for combat distinction, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Special Warfare (SEAL) breast insignia, Naval Parachutist breast insignia, the Honduran Medal of Merit and various unit and campaign ribbons.
President – Lieutenant Chris Chappell. Chris is a former US Army Ranger who served with the 2nd Ranger Battalion, where he earned his Ranger tab. Chris was part of the United States Army force that fought in Panama and later in Iraq as an Army Sniper Instructor. He received numerous medals and commendations during his time in active duty and left the Army as a Staff Sergeant. Chris is an Eagle Scout and a former Paramedic. Chris retired as a Police Lieutenant after 20+ years. He served as a Patrol Officer, a traffic re-constructionist, a SWAT Operator and a motor Officer. He has held the rank of Sergeant, Detective Sergeant and Lieutenant. He led the Detective Division, the Patrol Division, the Traffic Division and was the Assistant Commander of the ESU Team. Chris was selected as the Police Officer of the year in 2019. Chris is also the former President of the West Hartford FOP (Fraternal Order of the Police). He is currently working as a police officer in New Hampshire and an executive protection specialist. Chris is married and has three amazing children.
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Vice President – Lieutenant Jeremy Clark. Jeremy is an Army Veteran who served in active duty with the 25th Light Infantry Division. Upon completing his service, Jeremy worked as a legislative aid for the Connecticut State Legislature. He graduated with honors from Trinity College and subsequently worked for ICE and DEA. He has been a Police Officer for over 24 years, serving in the patrol, street crimes, ESU and traffic divisions. Jeremy has held the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain has led the Patrol Division, the Street Crime Unit, the Traffic Division, Internal Affairs and Vice and Narcotics, and the Detective Division and was the Commander of the ESU team. He was selected as Police Officer of the Year in 2003 and has received many departmental awards. He is married and has five wonderful children.
Director – Sgt. Jay Pedro. Jay is currently an instructor for Ridgeline Defense where he teaches SWAT Sniper and other specialized training courses. He retired as a Lieutenant from a municipal Vermont police department where he served as a Firearms/Patrol Rifle/LLIM/Active Threat Response/ Breaching Instructor, Tactical Response Team Leader, and Armorer for numerous weapon systems. He also retired from the Army National Guard as a Sergeant First Class in 2014. During his 10+ years on active duty, he worked in the counter-drug program, served six years as a sniper school instructor, and conducted sniper operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has competed in the International Sniper Competition, where he placed 1st in 2005 and 2nd in 2007. He is a graduate of DARC’s LE Counter-Terrorism Course, the CT Capitol Region SWAT School, the US Army Sniper Course, US Army Combat Tracking School & many more.
Director – Richard Kamin, MD, FACEP. Dr. Kamin received both his Bachelors of Science and Medical Degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He subsequently completed a residency in Emergency Medicine and EMS Fellowship at the University of Connecticut. Rich is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Rich is a member of the National Association of State EMS officials and is the co-principal investigator for the National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines project. He is also a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Tactical Officers Association and the CT-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team. Rich serves as the Immediate Past Chair for the American College of Emergency Physicians TEM Section, is a Guidelines Committee member for the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care and a member of the National TEMS Initiative and Council.
Dr. Kamin is an attending in the Emergency Department, the EMS Program Director and the EMS Fellowship Director at the University of Connecticut Health Center/School of Medicine where he is actively involved in teaching medical students, emergency medicine residents, pre-hospital providers and other emergency physicians. Rich serves as the Medical Director for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services. He is the medical director for the UCONN Tactical Rescue Team, the CT State Police ESU Paramedic Program and the West Hartford Police Department Division of Tactical and Protective Medicine Branch. Additionally, he provides medical support for both the North Central CT Emergency Services Team and the New Haven FBI SWAT Team.