NASPCB Item Writing Committee

Mr. Ralph Steven Brugueras is the Environmental Safety and Health Manager for PAE, National Security Solutions. He currently operates for a publicly traded government services contracting company as a senior advisor to their executive management team within its National Security Solutions business line. He boasts extensive international experience in safety management. His safety career began as a non-commissioned officer serving in forward-deployed combat zones where safety was key to every mission.

Ralph holds a BS in Occupational Safety and Health – Fire Safety and an MS in Occupational Safety and Health – Environmental Management from Columbia Southern University.

Ralph holds NASP’s Safety Professional Certificate (SPC) credential., He holds BCSP’s Associate Safety Professional (ASP) credential. His additional credentials include OSHA Authorized Instructor, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor certification, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Mr. Aaron J. Keyes has worked as an OHS consultant in construction and other industrial capacities since 2005. He has completed various training with the American Heart Association and the American Safety and Health Institute.

Aaron holds an MS in Occupational Safety and Health and a BS in Fire Safety from Columbia Southern University.

Aaron holds NASP’s Safety Professional Certificate (SPC) credential. His additional credentials include Basic EMT, HAZWOPER, Swiftwater and Rope Rescue, and Multi-hazard Planning for Childcare.

Mr. Andrew Lucas is the Compliance Safety & Health Officer/Industrial Hygienist, Charleston, WV (Region 3) for the Department of Labor (OSHA). He ensures worker safety, regulatory compliance, and public health/industrial hygiene standards/best practices are maintained within general industry/construction from both a private and federal industry perspective. Andrew is an Authorized OSHA trainer in both General and Construction industries with over five years of experience managing and directing federal, state, and local occupational safety and environmental compliance programs.

Andrew holds an MS in Occupational Safety and Health From Columbia Southern University and a BS in Health Science from Marshall University.

Andrew holds NASP’s Master Safety Professional (MSP)® certification. He holds three BCSP Credentials: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST), and Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST).

Mr. James A. Junkin is the Chief Executive Officer of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, L.L.C. James and his firm specialize in safety regulations, best practices, management systems, and EHS program development and implementation. They provide expert opinions for legal actions, technical writing for company-specific written policies and procedures, training, accident investigations, and site safety consultations.

James holds an MS in Occupational Safety & Health and a BS in Occupational Safety & Health Summa Cum Laude from Columbia Southern University.

James holds NASP’s Master Safety Professional (MSP)® certification. He holds three BCSP credentials: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Safety Management Specialist (SMS), and Associate Safety Professional (ASP). His additional credentials include multiple OSHA credentials and various Instructor credentials.

Columbia Southern University recognized his occupational safety and health achievements by declaring him the 2022 Outstanding Safety Professional (Runner Up) of the Year. He was awarded the National Association for Environmental Management’s (NAEM) 30 over 30 Award, recognizing his positive impact in consulting, including technical expertise, innovation, leadership effectiveness, and program development. He is the chairman of Veriforce’s Strategic Advisory Board, a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Strategic Advisory Group, Columbia Southern University’s Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Group, and a committee member of the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Z-390.1 Accepted Practices for Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Training Programs. He is co-host of the acclaimed podcast The Risk Matrix.

James is a noted author with articles appearing in trade and peer-reviewed publications such as the Professional Safety Journal and a much sought-after master trainer for Veriforce, having taught over 40,000 students and trained over 3,000 instructors. He is noted for his work during the Deepwater Horizon disaster, where he trained over 30,000 oil spill responders.

Mr. Joseph Fittos is the Director of Health and Safety for Environmental Waste Minimization, Inc. (EWMI). His role encompasses the overall safety management of plans for a controlled work environment, setting up monitoring and protective plans to prevent exposure to VOCs from the tar and systems for pumping and treatment of the tar and water layers, as well as final concrete installation with zero incidents. Joe’s previous career as an associate scientist in the field of organic chemistry moved him into a research and development chemist position in the field of organometallics and, ultimately, led him onto the Emergency Response Team.

Joe holds a BS in Biology from East Stroudsburg University and an MS in Occupational Safety & Health – Environmental Management from Columbia Southern University.

Joe holds NASP’s Master Safety Professional (MSP)® certification. He holds BCSP’s Associate Safety Professional (ASP). His additional credentials include OSHA 500 Trainer. OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER, OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER, Qualified Hazmat/ HAZWOPER Instructor, Qualified Permit Required Confined Space Rescue Trainer, and CPR/First Aid/AED Certified Trainer.

Mr. Kirt Breaux is the Sr. HSE Coordinator for Archrock in Pecos, TX, with 19 years of expertise in various industries. He has a proven track record of improving operational excellence by analyzing performance metrics and implementing strategic improvement plans. Kirt’s leadership has been instrumental in managing risks associated with material-handling activities, ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations and ASME B30 standards. He has directed significant projects in the Gulf of Mexico and played a crucial role in response efforts during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Kirt has excelled in reducing costs and increasing employee retention through innovative training programs, as well as streamlining waste management processes using cutting-edge automation tools. With a strong focus on safety, compliance, and strategic program advancement,

Kirt is pursuing a BS in Occupational Safety and Health From Columbia Southern University.

Kirt holds NASP’s Master Safety Professional (MSP)® certification. He holds BCSP’s Safety Management Specialist (SMS). His additional credentials include OSHA 30-hour general industry, McCoy’s RCRA hazardous waste management, and DOT Hazmat ground shipper.

Mr. Patrick Hallenbeck is the Director of EHS Operations at Camston Wrather, with over two decades of experience in designing and executing comprehensive safety programs across multiple industries. His career is marked by a strong focus on fostering a culture of safety, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement in EHS performance. Patrick leads the development and implementation of EHS policies across multiple sites, aligning them with regulatory requirements and certification standards. His leadership has been pivotal in enhancing workplace safety, improving emergency response readiness, and advancing sustainability initiatives. His efforts have significantly improved safety standards and reduced the environmental impact of operations.

Patrick’s previous roles, including his tenure as Director of EHS and Security at Hydranautics, reflect his deep expertise in risk assessment, budget management, and strategic planning. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to manage complex EHS projects, reduce incident rates, and optimize resource allocation, all while maintaining stringent compliance with regulatory standards.

Patrick is currently pursuing a BS in Occupational Safety from Columbia Southern University.

Patrick holds NASP’s Master Safety Professional (MSP)® and Certified Safety Director (CSD)® certifications.

Patrick’s dedication to helping others extends beyond his professional roles, evidenced by his publication, “Shades of the Resilient: The Journey of an African American Male in America” and as the founder and principal EHS consultant of Hallenbeck Consulting LLC. His work demonstrates a commitment to resilience and leadership, qualities that have defined his successful EHS career.

Mr. Paul Andersen is the Senior Safety-Compliance Engineer at OSHA Compliance Service. Paul boasts over 30 years of experience as a safety professional on top of an illustrious 27-year military career. He previously worked for Cal/OSHA as an Associate Safety Engineer assigned to the High Hazard Unit (N). He conducted comprehensive safety-compliance inspections of California employers identified by Cal/OSHA as High-Risk industries. He was trained and certified by Cal/OSHA in Accident Investigations, Report Writing, Citation Development and Writing, Machine Guarding, Scaffolding Competent Person, Excavation Competent Person, and Interpretation of Title 8 Code of California Regulations. Paul’s significant accomplishments include assisting California’s largest utility (PG&E) by creating a Contractor Safety Program, Damage Prevention Program, and Onboarding training specific to the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Program (PSEP).

Paul holds NASP’s Certified Safety Manager Certificate (CSM) and Certified Safety Manager Construction Certificate (CSMC) credentials. His additional credentials include Compliance Officer Training, Accident Investigation, Excavation, Scaffolding, and HAZWOPER Outreach Trainer Course.