August Vernon is currently an Assistant Coordinator for the Forsyth County Office of Emergency Management (NC). He returned in 2005 to his position at Emergency Management after a year in Iraq as a security contractor conducting long-range convoy security operations involved in several IED and combative engagements. Vernon has been a member of emergency management since 2000, a member of the fire service since 1990 and a fire service instructor. Also served in the U.S. Army as an NBC (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical) operations specialist. Mr. Vernon teaches courses in Incident Management, OPSEC for Public Safety, HazMat operations and Terrorism/WMD response. Has also been published in several national publications.