MEET OUR TACTICAL & AUSTERE COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Rory Hill
President
GAMS Developer
Lead Instructor
Mr. Rory Hill, LP, NRP, FP-C, holds a B.A. in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University and an Associate of Paramedic Science from Ivy Tech Community College. He started his EMS career over 28 years ago, serving both urban and rural regions in Northwestern and Central Indiana. Rory began working in emergency medical services in June 1994 and completed the Ingalls Hospital EMS Paramedic program in May 2003. He then started working as a paramedic with the City of Gary Fire Department.
In 2006, Rory became the Chief of EMS for Keener Township EMS and held the Training Officer and shift Captain roles. He began working at Indiana University Health LifeLine Flight Program in 2012 as a Flight Paramedic and Outreach Coordinator. After 25 years of service, Rory left the U.S. Army and IU Health Lifeline in 2018 to work as a Personal Security Paramedic/AEMT for the Department of State in Iraq. Rory's background in para medicine was obtained during the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, specializing in tactical and austere medicine.
Rory, the founder and CEO of Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions (GAMS), is the current inspiration for hands-on, practical medical training. He is currently employed in several roles, but his primary responsibility is managing the Educational Development Project and being the Lead Instructor. In this role, he ensures that the training adheres to our philosophy, “Real World Medicine for Real World Situations.” Rory has worked for Mobile Protection detailed and Emergency Response Teams while working for the Department of State as a Personal Security Specialist Paramedic/AEMT. He is the Educational Coordinator in Baghdad, Iraq, and works closely with the Operational Medical Director (OMD) to manage the training specifications for the task order.
He works with Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service (TEAS), a Paramedic, AHA, and NAEMT instructor in Lafayette, Indiana, when he is not serving overseas to stay current with modern, evidence-based EMS practice.
Dr. Stevan Vuckovic, Medical Director
Stevan A. Vuckovic, D.O., FACOEP, FACEP began his medical career over 40 years ago as a firefighter paramedic in the south suburbs of Chicago. He graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) in 1992 and completed his emergency medicine residency at CCOM in 1996, where he was Chief Resident.
After residency, Dr. Vuckovic moved to northwest Indiana and practiced emergency medicine at Franciscan Health Crown Point, where he was a Medical Director and practiced for 19 years. Here he was actively engaged in the training and education of EMS professionals and emergency medicine residents. In 2013, Dr. Vuckovic was awarded the EMS Medical Director of the Year by the Indiana Fire Chief’s Association and Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Dr. Vuckovic is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Midwestern University/CCOM in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has extensive operational experience in EMS, EMS education, and tactical emergency medicine. Currently, he serves as Medical Director for Franciscan Health Rensselaer Emergency Department and EMS System.
Dr. Vuckovic retired from the Lake County Sheriff’s department after 21 years of serving as a Deputy Sheriff, Co-Medical Director of the SWAT team, and Co-Commander of the Special Trauma and Rescue (STAR) Team.
David Carr Course Coordinator Lead Instructor
David Carr, LP, NRP, and GAMS Course Coordinator and Lead Instructor. David Carr is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in emergency medical services and firefighting. He is currently a full-time career firefighter/paramedic with the Crawfordsville Fire Department, where he has served for almost 10 years.
David is a founding member of the S.W.A.T. Medic Program for the Montgomery County Multi-jurisdictional S.W.A.T. Team and serves as a member and E.M.S. training coordinator. His commitment to public safety is evident in the successful completion of several courses and certifications, including Rope Rescue Technician, Hazmat Technician, Confined Space Technician, and Fire Instructor 1, 2, and 3 certifications. He also holds the rank of EMS Sergeant. In addition to these roles, David is one of the department's NAEMT Course Coordinators and NAEMT Instructors for PreHospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TECC and TECC LEO).
David's commitment to public service extends beyond his work in the fire department. He has been a member of the Indiana National Guard for 17 years and continues to serve. During his time of service, he completed 11 years in a Long-Range Surveillance Unit and 6 years with a Parachute Rigger unit. In 2011, he completed a tour to Iraq. David's experience in the military is reflected in his completion of Airborne School, Air Assault School, Jumpmaster school (Master Rated Parachutist), and Pathfinder School. He holds multiple MOS's: Infantry (11B), Radio Operator and Maintainer (25C), Ammunition Supply Specialist (89B), and Parachute Rigger (92R).
David's unique skill set and expertise enable him to provide high-quality, applicable training that benefits his students and the community at large. As a Course Coordinator and Lead Instructor for the GAMS program, he is dedicated to providing the best possible training to help others succeed in their careers. David looks forward to applying his experience and knowledge to serve his community and make a positive impact on public safety.
Doug Pearson
TCCC Affiliate Faculty Member
Lead Instructor
Doug Pearson, LP, NRP, TCCC Affiliate Faculty Member and Lead Instructor. Doug has a background crossing many disciplines. This cross-training has allowed him to easily mesh with different units and sections of public safety. He also has an associate's degree from Vincennes University in Criminal Justice and pursuing his B.S. degree in Marketing.
Doug has a combat tour with the 1st Infantry Division, where he was assigned to the 1-4 Cavalry, Division recon unit and was detailed to the Division LRS detachment during his deployment in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. After leaving active duty and while completing his reserve time, Doug started his civilian public safety training and career. Completing the EMT-B course in 1993 and becoming a police officer in the Indianapolis area in 1994.
Doug completed a police career spanning 29+ years, retiring from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in March of 2023 with 23 years of service there. Doug worked uniform patrol as an instructor at the Indiana law enforcement academy occasionally and on staff at the IPD/IMPD training academy. Doug was a department rifleman and worked with the department's Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit for 12 years.
In 2013 Doug completed his Advanced EMT course and started providing some medical services to the bomb squad. In 2016 he completed his paramedic training and worked as the bomb squad's team medic. During that time, Doug also provided medic services to the Indiana State Police Central SWAT team when they were in the Indianapolis area. He completed his last 12 years with the police department assigned as a detective in criminal investigations. Investigating arson and explosive cases in the covert/organized crime branch. Where he received his Firefighter certifications and Hazmat Tech certification, to name a couple. In 2017 Doug began working PRN at Indianapolis EMS and is currently working in their education division. Where he has had the opportunity to train EMS workers in the Indianapolis area and around the state.
In his EMS teaching, he has been able to bring a real-world experience of combat and law enforcement mentality to the training to allow students to better understand how the public safety units can work together. I look forward to learning from future students and sharing my experience with them. If you learn one thing from any training attended, then it was not wasted training! Stay safe
Anthony Forton Lead Instructor
Anthony Forton LP, NRP, and Lead Instructor. Anthony started his career nearly 30 years ago as an EMT in Northern Michigan. Currently, Anthony works as a Personal Security Specialist Paramedic on a Diplomatic Security Detail in various high-threat environments overseas. Anthony has years of experience in paramedicine obtained during the War on Terror in Iraq, specializing in tactical medicine. Anthony became a Paramedic in the 80’s starting off on the street answering 911 calls and later became a S.W.A.T. Medic in the late ’90s, working alongside some of Northern Michigan’s most respected and talented Law Enforcement officers. He also found time Over the years Anthony has attended multiple Tactical Medical Courses ranging from an essential Tac-Med provider, TCCC/MP, and Critical Care.
Anthony enjoyed this so much that I became an instructor for TCCC. He enjoyed the training aspect so much he now holds instructor certifications in AHA – BLS, ACLS, & PALS, NAEMT – TCCC-MP, TECC, PHTLS, and AMLS. While at home, he still practicing Paramedicine at a local Fire and EMS department. He also recently started teaching the Department of Homeland Security's Active Threat Integrated Response Course (ATIRC) as an adjunct professor at LSU (Louisiana State University) and NRA-FI, Range Safety Officer (RSO). Anthony is a proven dictated medicine practitioner with years of experience in both the tactical and austere environments. Who always is assisting aspiring paramedics and EMTs to develop into top-notch caregivers.