co ntr ibutor s
ANTHONY AVILLO, a 29-year veteran of the fires
service, is a deputy chief in North Hudson (NJ)
Regional Fire & Rescue, assigned as 1st Platoon
regional tour commander. He has a BS degree in fire
science from New Jersey City University.
Avillo is an adjunct professor at NJCU teaching Fire
Science. He is also an instructor at the Monmouth
County (NJ) Fire Academy. He is an FDIC instructor
and a member of the FDIC advisory board and the
editorial advisory board of Fire Engineering. He is the
author of Fireground Strategies, 2nd edition (Fire
Engineering, 2008) and Fireground Strategies
Workbook Volumes I & II (Fire Engineering, 2002,
2010). He was a contributing author to Fire
Engineering's Handbook for Firefighter I and
Firefighter II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is co-author
of its Study Guide (Fire Engineering, 2010).
Avillo was a collaborator in the Tactical Perspectives
DVD series (Fire Engineering, 2011) and has had
issued the DVD Forging a Culture of Safety (Fire
Engineering, 2013).
a Disability; Department of the Navy Outstanding
Employee with a Disability; Air Force Meritorious
Civilian Service Award; and the Adrian College,
(Michigan) Alumni Achievement Award.
In 1998, George was inducted into the Adrian
College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Adrian College in 1963 and a Master of Arts degree
from Webster University in 1975.
George has over 25 years teaching experience at the
university and community college level. Courses
included aviation safety, aircraft accident
investigation, leadership, teambuilding, training and
development, quality improvement and
organizational behavior. He is a contributing writer
for several magazines and newsletters in the United
States.
George is a guest speaker at the United States Naval
Academy on issues of Character, Ethics, Leadership,
Core Values and Adversity.
Avillo was recipient of the 2012 Fire Engineering/
ISFSI George D. Post Fire Instructor of the Year
Award. He was a guest speaker (2010-2013), at West Point
on Adversity, Character, Ethics, Core Values and
Leadership.
GEORGE BURK, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is a
nationally recognized motivational speaker, author
and trainer. George was a visiting speaker at the Phoenix,
Arizona and Glendale, Arizona Fire Academies. For
the past 40 years, he has addressed professional,
private and non-profit organizations on issues of
Leadership, Core Values, Adversity, Safety, Health
and Wellness, and Life Skills.
In May 1970, he was the sole survivor of 14
passengers in a military plane crash. The crew was
enroute to Spokane, Washington to conduct an
operational analysis. Ascending through 3000’, the
aircraft experienced rapid de-compression and
massive structural failure, crashing in the hills near
Schellville, California. He suffered severe burns and
multiple internal injuries. George spent 90 days in
Intensive Care where he had two Near Death
Experiences, and spent 18 months in the hospital. He
was medically retired from the Air Force in 1971.
His awards include: The Bronze Star; Air Force
Commendation Medal; Presidential Award for
Outstanding Employee with a Disability; Department
of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability;
Department of the Navy Outstanding Employee with
He has appeared as a guest on a number of radio
stations around t he country, Canada and several
news and TV stations in Phoenix, Arizona. In
February, 2001, George’s story was profiled on the
Discovery Health Channel; “Lifeforce: Overcoming
Obstacles.”
George is the author of: “The Bridge Never Crossed
- A Survivor’s Search for Meaning.” ISBN
1-888725-16-8.
“Value Centered Leadership - A Survivor’s Strategy
for Personal and Professional Growth.” ISBN
1-888725-59-1;