TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITYFaculty Home
Dr. Tracy E Rickman – Instructor and Coordinator of Public Administration BAAS Program

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Education

  • D.P.A University of LaVerne, California
    • Doctorate in Public Administration
  • M.P.A. University of LaVerne, California
    • Specialization: Public Administration
    • Earned Masters
  • B.S. Park College, Parkville MO
    • “Bachelors of Management/Marketing”
  • A.S. Community College of the Air Force
    • Grand Forks AFB, ND
    • Specialization: Fire Technology

Administrative Experience

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Fire Academy Coordinator, Homeland Site Coordinator & Chief, Wildland Fire Crew 77, Rio Hondo College, Rio Hondo Rio Community College District Whittier, CA. May 1997 to Dec 2019
    • Full Time Faculty- 100% release time, Coordinated Fire, EMT, Wildland Fire Programs, provided supervision and leadership in the planning, organizing, and administering programs delivered at an off-site location in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Significant accomplishments include:
      • Recognized in 2008 and 2014 by the WASC/ACCJC accreditation teams for outstanding programs in homeland security, and fire technology programs.
      • Wrote curriculum for Wildland Fire Technology certificate and degree. Received
        approval for Wildland Fire Academy program from California Community College Chancellor.
      • Oversee state-certified Regional Training Center for Fire Technology, Emergency
        Medical Technician, and Homeland Security.
      • Established broad-based program approval from the Office of the State Fire
        Marshal, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Urban Area
        Security Initiatives (UASI), and the Los Angeles County Department of Health
        Services
      • Worked with faculty members to form a new Emergency Medical Services curriculum and started the foundation for a degree in Homeland Security.
      • Firefighting and Related Protective Services programs have consistently ranked
        within the op 50 Associate Degrees by the Community College Week’s annual
        associate degree and certificate producers for the past decade. In 2013 Rio
        Hondo College was ranked 23rd in the nation and 2nd in the state.
      • Supported various community and outreach programs associated with the
        college mission and public safety programs.
      • Wrote first course in Homeland Security at Rio Hondo College.
      • Developed and wrote curriculum for 88-hour, Regional “Truck Academy”
        program
      • Chief, Wildland Fire Crew- 77, USFS, TYPE II Hand crew.

PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Fire Chief (Northrop Grumman/Pinkerton Government Services) 2009-2010 (Part Time position)
    • Fire Chief for one year as the organization was recruiting for a new Fire Chief.
    • Managed 18 employees, completed budget and managed fire department
      resources.
  • Fire Inspector (South Pasadena Fire Department) 1997 – 2011 (Total of 4 years, 1997-1999 & 2009 to 2011, part time)
  • Performed numerous duties related to fire inspection, code enforcement and plan checking with responsibility as the only city fire Inspector. Significant accomplishments:
    • Fire Inspections completed on weekly basis.
    • Completed plan checks for all submitted plans to City Hall.
    • Completion of reports, forms and completed all other related duties as Fire
      Inspector.
  • Assistant Fire Chief (Northrop Grumman Fire Department, B-2 Division) 1990- 1997 (Full Time)
  • Performed numerous operational and administrative assignments as the Assistant Chief of Operations and Training. Significant accomplishments:
    • Oversaw day to day operations of B-2 Division Fire Department Pico Rivera CA.
    • Managed training of all 24 firefighters within organization
    • Responsible for all emergency responses and fire ground management as
      needed.
    • Completed budget documentation
    • Completed employee evaluations and relate personnel issues, concerns, and\ needs.
    • Completed all required local and state fire training, maintained records of such
  • Firefighter (Grand Forks AFB, United State Air Force) 1982 – 1990 (Full Time)
    • Performed duties as a firefighter, USAF. Honorable Discharge as SSGT (E-5), Fire Captain. Experience in Crash rescue and Structural Firefighting.

Higher Educational Teaching Experience

Tarleton State University, 2021 – Present

Instructor and PA BAAS Advisor, School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

  • MAPA 5300 – Public Administration- Master Program
  • MAPA 5322 – Ethics in Public Administration- Master’s Program
  • MAPA 5363 – Leadership in Government and Nonprofits- Master’s Program

Rio Hondo College, 1997 – 2019

Public Safety Division, Full Time, Tenured

  • Homeland Security Courses. Wrote Approved Curriculum and teach:
  • HMLD 101 Introduction to Homeland Security
  • FTEC 101 Fire Organization
  • FTEC 102 Fire Safety and Survival
  • FTEC 103 Fire Behavior
  • FTEC 104 Fire Prevention
  • FTEC 105 Building Construction
  • FTEC 107 Hazardous Materials
  • FTEC 117 Fire Service Management
  • FTEC 121 Emergency Medical Response
  • FAC 118 Basic Fire Academy
  • FAC 043 Advanced Fire Course
  • *Past EMT Program Director

California Baptist University, 2014

Adjunct Professor, Bachelor and Master’s Programs in Public Administration

  • MPA 530 Public Finance and Budgeting
  • MPA 545 Conflict Resolution and Labor Negotiation
  • MPA 540 Public Personnel Management
  • MPA 550 Information Technology
  • MPA 580 Legal and Ethical Issues
  • MPA 585 Political Economy
  • POL 213 American Government
  • POL 490 Contemporize Issues in Public Administration

California Baptist University, 2017

Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration Course:

  • TECH 3590 Fire Investigation Techniques
  • TECH 4510 Fire Laws and Building codes: Interpretation and Enforcement.
  • TECH 4580 Fire Research Methods

Copper Mountain College, 2014

  • FIRE 100 Wildland Fire Academy
  • FIRE 002 Fire Prevention
  • FIRE 003 Fire Protection Systems
  • FIRE 004 Building Construction for the Fire Service

Glendale Community College, 2008

Associates Degree, Fire Technology Courses:

  • FIRE 102 Fire Behavior and Combustion
  • FIRE 105 Fire Protection Systems
  • FIRE 106 Firefighter Safety and Survival
  • FIRE 114 Hazardous Materials

Citrus Community College, 2007

Emergency Management and Homeland Security courses:

  • EMER 163 Managing Hazardous Materials
  • Health 100 Careers in Health Occupations

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • 2020 HAYWARD AWARD WINNER, COMMUNITY COLLGE CHANCELLOR OFFICE”
  • California Fire Technology Directors Association, Past President
  • American Society for Public Administration
  • American Society of Safety Professionals- Member
  • TripWire.org
  • Elk Member, Ontario CA, 16 years.
  • Member, Western Cherokee Nation, Tribal Affiliation, Enrollment # 23606
  • Certified CPR/First Aid Instructor, American Heart Association, 28 years.

GRANTS, STRONGFORCE AND VTEA/CAL PERKINS, California Community Colleges

  • Successfully completed grants in 2010 through 2019, Received over $500,000 for
  • funding in top-code 2133.00, 2133.10, 2133.50 and EMT program top-code.