Texas

Texas Private Investigator License #A18714

JACOB “Chappy” CHAPMAN: IAAI/FIT, NAFI-CFEI – Livingston, TX

Jacob Chapman is a Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Jacob has more than 10 years of experience in the fire service, previously serving as Fire Marshal with the Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office. He serves as a Deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and a Fire Investigator and Fire Inspector with the Livingston Fire Department. He is also a Firefighter with the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department and a Law Enforcement Instructor at Angelina Community College, teaching courses in mental health, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. Jacob also assists with the Texas Basic Peace Officer Academy course.

Jacob also served in law enforcement for 15 years as a jailer, patrolman, patrol deputy, patrol corporal, and detective. He holds Fire Investigator, Fire Inspector, and Fire and Life Safety Educator certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

BRIAN L. GILMORE: IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI, NAFI/CVFI – Dallas, TX

Brian is an experienced expert witness in fire-related court cases. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator though the National Association of Fire Investigators. Brian is also a Master Peace Officer, Master Arson Investigator, and Master Fire Inspector in the state of Texas with over twenty-six years of experience in the fire service. He is a former Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a former member of the ATF’s National Response Team, and a former Accelerant Detection Canine Handler Certified by the ATF. He holds degrees in Fire Protection Technology and Fire Investigation Technology and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. He is a member in good standing of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, the North American Police Work Dog Association, and numerous other professional organizations.

JOSEPH VALENZUELA: NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – El Paso, TX

Joseph is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has more than 10 years of experience as a private fire investigator in Texas and New Mexico. Joseph has served as a licensed Texas Master Peace Officer within the Crime Scene Unit of the El Paso Police Department since 2006, and he is a State Certified Instructor with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He is a Certified Arson Investigator through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He has made several court appearances and testified in many trials. Joseph is a member in good standing with the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, and the International Association for Identification.

PHILLIP R. GRONA: NAFI/CVFI, IAAI/CFI – San Antonio, TX

Phillip Grona is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He is also certified through the Texas Commission of Fire Protection as a Fire Investigator and Fire Inspector I and II. He has more than 16 years of experience as a fire investigator. Phillip earned his master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University. Additionally, he earned his associate’s degree in Fire Administration from Midland College.

MATTHEW BUSHNELL: NAFI/CFEI – San Antonio, TX

Matthew Bushnell is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has 25 years of experience in the fire service and currently serves as Assistant Chief of the New Braunfels Fire Department. Additionally, he has investigated arson with the same department for 15 years, as well as with the Seguin Fire Department for eight years. Matthew also holds the ranking of Master Arson Investigator and Master Peace Officer through the State of Texas. He is a member in good standing with the National Association of Fire Investigators and has an associate degree in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Weatherford College.

GREGORY GORDON:  IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – Houston, TX 

Greg Gordon is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators as well as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators.  He has over 34 years of experience in the fire service and was promoted through the ranks to the level of Fire Investigator for the City of Houston, a position he held from 2007 until his retirement from the Houston Fire Department in 2019.  He has also been employed as a private investigator since 2010, giving him experience in investigating fire cause and origin in both the public and private sectors.  Greg is a graduate of the University of Houston. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Arson Investigators, the Texas Firefighters Association, and the Texas Municipal Police Association.

J.C. TRAVIS:  IAAI/CFI(V), NAFI/CFEI, CVFI – Sweetwater, TX

J.C. Travis is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator as well as a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigation through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over 30 years of experience in the fire service, combined with 15 years of law enforcement experience. J.C. retired from the Wise County Fire Marshal’s Office in 2015. He has been working as a private fire investigator in the State of Texas since that time. Travis is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators.

RYAN ALMS: IAAI/CFI – Magnolia, TX

Ryan Alms is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI-CFI and IAAI-CFI(V)). Ryan has over 19 years of firefighting experience serving with the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department and Northwest Fire Department, as well as experience in many other positions, including Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, and Fire Investigator. He is also a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

P. TERRY MESSER: IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI – Burleson, TX

Phillip “Terry” Messer is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over 36 years of experience in the fire industry, with over 10 years as a fire investigator, including his current position as the Battalion Chief of Training and Lead Fire Investigator with the Mansfield Fire Department. Phillip holds a Master Fire Investigator certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and an AAS degree in Fire Science. He is also a member in good standing of the Tarrant County Arson Task Force, International Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of Fire Investigators, and the International Association of Firefighters. Phillip also holds a Master Instructor and Master Firefighter certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

Austin Cullison: Electrical Engineer – Terrell, TX

Austin is an Electrical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from Purdue University. He has Top Secret DOD Clearance and over seven years of engineering experience in aircraft design, modification, maintenance, and repair. He has served as a Specialist Electrical Engineer with L3Harris supporting the modification and repair of numerous DOD / Military airframes. Austin is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as an Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems Journeyman on F-16s in Kunsan, Korea and Ogden, Utah, giving him a wide range of experience designing and troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems including hydraulics, propulsion, power generation & distribution, communications, environmental control, avionics, and flight controls.