Captain (Retired) Bob Suarez, Des Moines Fire Department, Special Operations Section Captain Suarez, until March 2025, was a member of the fire service in Iowa for over 26 years. For the last 13 years he managed the Des Moines Fire Department’s Hazmat, Technical and Water Rescue Teams, overseeing approximately 125 technicians. In addition to his work with DMFD, Captain Suarez travels the country teaching with a focus on hazmat and confined space rescue. Bob has been a Paramedic for over 20 years and holds a AAS in Fire Service Management, a BS in Emergency and Disaster Management and a MS in Security Studies from the prestigious Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Captain Suarez’s fire career began as a volunteer with the Coralville Fire Department in 1996. He was hired as a full-time firefighter by the City of Cedar Rapids in 1998 where he served faithfully until 2002 when he was hired by the Des Moines Fire Department. Bob promoted through the ranks, and in addition to firefighter, held the rank of Medic and Lieutenant before being promoted to Captain in 2016. He has served as a member of the Hazmat Team since 2003. Bob Is a member of the NFPA 400 Committee and is recognized by the IAFF as a Master HazMat/WMD Instructor. Bob’s Interests outside of the fire service include exercise, Hawkeye wrestling, and the acoustic guitar. But without a doubt his favorite activity is spending time with his 3 (grown) children. He also believes that one of his best qualities is that he sucks at quitting.