Faculty

Chief Dan Coffman has worked in government for more than four decades. He was drafted into the United States Army in April 20, 1971, during the Viet Nam Conflict, where he served in the infantry and medical corps for two years. Upon separation from the military, he worked a short stint as a courier for the federal government before entering the Fire Service.

He started his Fire Service career as a Firefighter at Miramar Naval Air Station (Fightertown USA) in San Diego on April 14, 1974. Spent 15 years as a Firefighter\Paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, in various assignments, including 7 years in the Air Operations\Special Operations Division, and served as the Chief of the Administrative Services Division and as the Public Information Officer for the Chino Valley Fire Department.

Appointed in 1984, he served for two decades in the Deukmejian, Wilson and Davis Administrations as a Member and Vice Chairman of California’s State Board of Fire Services, and was the elected President of both the Los Angeles County and California State Firefighter’s Associations.

In 1995, Chief Coffman was appointed Director of the Fire Technology Program, Chief of the Fire Academy and Faculty Member at Rio Hondo College in Los Angeles County. Promoted to the academic rank of Professor in 1999, he currently teaches full-time. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Los Angeles where he teaches Fire Administration, Public Administration and Political Science, and is on Faculty at several other colleges. He teaches classes on campus, on television and on the Internet.

In addition to his duties as an educator, Professor Coffman recently completed four terms as the elected President of the California Fire Technology Directors Association and has served the Schwarzenegger and Brown administrations as a member of the California Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC).

He currently serves as a FEMA Region IX Co-Chair on the “Fire & Emergency Services Higher Education Conference”, Professional Development Initiative, is on the Advisory Committees for the Fire Protection Administration; and Master of Science in Public Administration Programs at CSULA and serves in leadership positions and is active in numerous other organizations.
Chief Coffman is a published author and lecturer, was a State Licensed Paramedic for 25 years, is California Certified as a Chief Officer, Fire Officer, Firefighter, Fire Prevention Officer, Public Education Officer and Fire Instructor. Has an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Technology from San Diego Miramar College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Protection Administration, and a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration. Both advanced degrees were earned at California State University, Los Angeles.

As a fire service and labor leader, and community activist; he has been involved in government, civic and political affairs at the federal, state, and local level throughout most of his adult life. He has gained considerable experience in the affairs of fire service operations, management, government, the political process, public and community relations and in dealing with the press and media. As President of “Daniel P. Coffman Associates” and the “Fire Education Company Inc.”, he is an educator and consultant to the public, private and non-profit sectors on education and emergency services, speaks at seminars and other special events and provides emergency planning, safety and emergency medical training for business, governments and communities.
Office Phone Number (562) 463-7722

Dr. Flores has over 40 years of serving in public safety career fields. Presently he is an Instructor in the Public Safety Division teaching Homeland Security, Administration of Justice and Corrections courses.

Office Phone Number (562) 463-7733

Faculty Office: AJ 302

Dr. Flores Faculty Page

Don Mason is committed to helping students reaching their academic and career goals. He has been at Rio Hondo since 1995. He has worked in the police academy as a Recruit Training Officer as well as teaching classes in administration of justice, corrections, and emergency preparedness. He is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and have presented throughout the country and has coauthored many articles on public safety. He has 20 years of law enforcement experience.

Office Phone Number (562) 463-7749