Gorbett Named Among Top 10 Fire Science Instructors in South

Greg Gorbett, associate professor of Safety, Security and Emergency Management at EKU, is included in list of the Top 10 Fire Science Instructors in the South recently named by FireScience.org.

The website set out to find educators in fire science, fire responder care, and forestry who had been recognized for excellence in the classroom, on campus and in the community. The six regionally based top instructor lists include the following:

• 13 Sensational Southeast Fire Science Instructors
• 8 Top Fire Science Instructors in the Pacific Northwest
• Top 10 Fire Science Instructors in the South
• Top 14 Fire Science Instructors in the Midwest
• Top 15 Fire Science Instructors in the Northeast
• Top Fire Science Instructors – 15 Best in the West

“Our goal with the top instructors project is to recognize some of the very best educators and mentors in fire science,” said Matt Davis, managing director of FireScience.org. “When our site visitors expressed deep interest in learning about the people who make our fire departments, academies and college programs tick, we were more than honored to oblige.”

Before joining the EKU faculty, Gorbett spent seven years working as a private consultant in the fire, arson and explosion investigation profession. He earned bachelor’s degrees in fire science and forensic science and a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership, and is pursuing a master’s degree in fire protection engineering.

He was part of an investigative team that looked into the causes of the Pioneer Hotel fire, a 1970 blaze in Tucson, Ariz., that killed 28 and resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of 16-year-old Louis Taylor. In light of new evidence, Taylor was set free earlier this year and the story was featured in a “60 Minutes” segment in March.

This marks the first year FireScience.org has honored fire science instructors across the country.

FireScience.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating free and valuable resources related to fire science, as well as to firefighter and first responder training. In addition to detailed articles about fire science and firefighting in U.S. cities and states, the site offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date tool for locating city, county, tribal, state, and federal fire departments, both career and volunteer.

Published on June 11, 2013