Eric Bernard

Mr. Bernard is a Pittsburgh, PA native and began his public safety career in the United States Navy as a combat medic and emergency care worker. He served eight years, which included assignments supporting Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He was part of an elite team assembled to train special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration in emergency operations, field medicine, tactical operations and crew integrity. He is highly decorated including five medals for valor. Additionally he received airborne training, field combat operations and many other military courses and training.

He moved to Rockville, Maryland in late 1987 and became a firefighter/rescuer with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. He has remained an active firefighter and EMT continuously for the past twenty-seven years holding numerous positions and ranks.

Mr. Bernard has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors in public safety, law enforcement, forensics, WMD, life safety, fire safety, rescue and emergency preparedness. He has worked in the federal government consulting on various public safety and life safety issues and provided testimony before several governmental bodies, panels and councils on fire and rescue issues, recruitment and retention emergency preparedness and response as well as serving in sworn law-enforcement positions.

For several years Mr. Bernard was the head of emergency/tactical medicine, field forensic science and emergency services unit supporting the law enforcement component of a specialized transportation company created, post 9/11, to support security agencies of the federal government that require the discrete, highly secured movement of personnel, equipment, and other assets. The company, which was a certified law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia, also provided Homeland Security consulting, threat assessments, and best practices consulting services to major corporations.

Mr. Bernard is an adjunct professorial lecturer of forensic science at the George Washington University since 2002, where he teaches various forensic science subjects to graduate students.  He also holds faculty positions at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, and the University of Maryland. In addition, he provides safety audits, training and consultation to numerous federal government agencies and military branches.

His educational experiences include a Bachelor’s of Science degree in criminal justice and psychology from the University of Maryland, a degree in medical technology and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science both from the George Washington University. Mr. Bernard is married with two children and lives in Montgomery County, MD.