Dr. Hicks is a certified fire and explosion investigator, vehicle fire investigator, and fire/explosions investigation instructor with the National Association of Fire Investigators. Dr. Hicks has developed numerous college-level courses, multi-day seminars, and dedicated trainings in fire protection, investigation, emergency management and preparedness. He has extensive experience performing incident analysis as well as provided expert witness case review, testimony and litigation support in criminal and civil cases regarding fire incident analysis, fire codes, emergency response, and other fire-related topics.
William D. Hicks Jr., Ed.D. began his career as a first responder in search and rescue more than 20 years ago, serving as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief, technical rescue squad member and county emergency management agency volunteer. He became a fire investigator in 2000, and has been a founding member of the Madison County Fire Investigation Task Force in Kentucky since 2007. Dr. Hicks holds a BS in Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation, MS in Loss Prevention and Safety, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
He has worked as a consultant and in several emergency services and higher education organizations, developing training programs for new and experienced persons, taking care of equipment, performing fire incident and fire code analysis, and overseeing large, multi-agency operations involving various types of rescues and emergency situations. He is currently the Chair of the Department of Fire Protection and Paramedicine Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University and serves as program coordinator for the Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation and the Fire Protection Administration Degrees.
Dr. Hicks is a certified fire and explosion as well as vehicle fire investigator, and fire/explosions investigation instructor with the National Association of Fire Investigators. He is a certified fire investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators and a certified fire protection specialist with the National Fire Protection Association, a certified fire prevention inspector with Kentucky’s Fire Marshal Office, and state state-licensed private investigator. Dr. Hicks has developed college-level courses as well as more than 20 multi-day seminars and provided extensive training in fire protection, investigation, emergency management and preparedness. He has performed incident analysis as well as provided expert witness case review, testimony and litigation support in criminal and civil cases regarding fire incident analysis, fire codes, emergency response, and other fire-related topics. He serves on numerous academic and training committees, including as an alternate on the National Fire Protection Association document 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation, and is on the National Association of Fire Investigators Board of Directors.
Dr. Hicks is one of the founding instructors for the federally approved Occupational Safety Health Training Institute at Eastern Kentucky University. Since 2006, he has developed numerous OTI and industry-related seminars and various lectures on Occupational Safety and Health standards. He has provided consultant services in the field of occupational safety with regards to safety plans, safety audits, and program reviews, and has provided expert witness services on litigation involving many OSHA topics, including confined spaces, walking working surfaces, and cases involving personal protective equipment.
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