John Curnutt

Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) – Texas State University

John Curnutt is a founding member of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and serves Texas State University as the Center's Assistant Executive Director. John is a State of Texas Master Peace Officer with more than 29 years of experience. He served nearly eighteen years on a multi-agency SWAT Team as a pointman, assistant team leader, team leader and then sniper. John has been awarded the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, Medal of Valor, two Life-Saving Medals, Police Commendation Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Chief's Recognition Award, and the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association's Excellence Award. John studied Criminal Justice at Southwest Texas State University and is a US Army veteran.

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Dr. Kevin Kloesel

University of Oklahoma

Dr. Kevin Kloesel is the University Meteorologist and Director of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey at the University of Oklahoma (OU). For 25 years, Kevin provided weather forecast and weather safety information to the OU Department of Campus Safety, advised the OU Executive Policy Group in severe and winter weather situations, and led weather safety training for students, faculty, and staff. He served four Oklahoma governors on the State of Oklahoma Hazard Mitigation Task Force and Oklahoma Drought and Flood Task Force. Kevin works directly with thousands of K-12 students and teachers, as well as hundreds of emergency management agencies, in finding appropriate applications for weather data in local education, decision-making, and weather safety planning. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Event Safety Alliance and has provided weather preparedness training at sports venues, concerts halls, and amusement parks throughout the country. He will transition in the fall of 2024 to do these same tasks back in his home state of Texas for Baylor University in Waco.

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Willie Spears

The Willie Spears Experience

Willie Spears, M. Ed., is a critically acclaimed author, highly sought after speaker, and educator. He graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in communications and from Troy University with a masters in education. Mr. Spears has taken the country by storm with his passionate, energetic, and hilarious approach to teaching life management skills to students, business leaders, organizations, and teams. Through a significant social media presence, and an average of twenty presentations per month in seven states, The Willie Spears Experience has become a reliable source of inspiration. Mr. Spears adds value to lives, helping to inspire, motivate, and remind employees of their value and significance. He has written 17 books and has spoken to more than 100 colleges and universities including the University of Oklahoma, Florida State University, the University of Clemson.

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Commander Scott Byrd

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

Commander Scott Byrd has served in many roles in his 24-year career with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Patrol Operations, Violent Crimes Reduction, Intelligence - Gang Unit, and as a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team. As Scott sought promotion his roles included supervision of the many units he previously served in, becoming the Field Commander for the SWAT Section. As a commander, Scott has served as the Director of Training, School Safety Division Commander, Special Operations Division Commander, and the Deputy Incident Commander at Covenant School.

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