Faculty

Juddson Smith

Juddson Smith, MBA, LP

Program Director

  • He has the privilege of playing a role in the co-founding of Axon Education Consortium and have actively contributed to its ongoing development.

Education

  • West Texas A&M University, Master’s in Business Administration, 2022
  • McMurry University, Bachelor of Arts, 2011
  • Texas State Technical College, Associates in Paramedicine, 2013
Adam Wester

Adam Wester

Assistant Program Director & Instructional Coordinator

Adam serves as the Assistant Program Director and Instructional Coordinator for Axon Education. He leads curriculum development and instruction design, ensuring that our students and staff receive high quality educational experiences. Adam’s passion is helping others grow and succeed through innovative and effective learning solutions.

Professional Certifications

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, Columbia Southern University, 2024
  • Texas State Technical College, Associate of Emergency Medical Technology – Paramedicine, 2014
 

 Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • Marine Corp Award and Ribbons: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Device, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
  • National Honor Society of Leadership and Success

Brittany Bangert

Director of Student Support

Brittany is the Director of Student Support. She has been working with Axon since January of 2021. Her current position focuses on improving the student experience and working with her team to ensure that students are receiving the best communication and advice that they can to be successful in their respective programs.

Professional Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), EMS Instructor, CPR Instructor

Education

  • Associates, Los Medanos Community College, 2018
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of California, 2020
  • Emergency Medical Technician, Axon Education
  • Paramedic, Axon Education (Expected 2024) 

Melissa Berrie

Instructor

Professional Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), EMS Instructor, CPR Instructor, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)

Education

  • EMT-Basic Certification, Howard College
  • Paramedic Certification, West Texas Emergency Training
  • Critical Care Paramedic Course, Peace-Health Oregon EMS
  • American Heart Association, EMS Region III, Emergency Cardiac Care Training Center

 Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • NREMT Paramedic
  • TX DSHS EMS Instructor
  • NAEMSE Level 2 EMS Instructor
  • Psychological First Aid
  • CERT Instructor
  • AHA Basic Life Support Provider
  • AHA Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support Provider
  • AHA Basic Life Support Instructor
  • AHA Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support Instructor
  • AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
  • AHA Heartsaver Instructor
  • AHA Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization Instructor
  • Stop the Bleed Instructor
  • Emergency Preparedness Instructor/Trainer

Jaffin Durham

Instructor

Education   

  •  Associates in Arts, Howard Junior College 2005
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness and Economics, Oklahoma State University, 2007
  • EMT Basic, Western Texas College, 2009
  • EMT Intermediate, Western Texas College, Snyder, Texas, 2010
  • Paramedic, South Plains College, Levelland, Texas 1 Course, 2011
 

 Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • State Deployment Certifications: Strike team Member, Strike Team Leader, Ambulance Staging Management Team, Mobile Medical Unit member, and Medical Incident Support Team 
  • Critical Incident Stress Management Certified
  • Tactical Combat Casualty Care 
  • Flight Paramedic 
 

Nicole Bowker

Instructor

Professional Certifications

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Education

  • Associate of Applied Science, Remington College, 2009
  • EMT, Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services, 2014
  • Paramedic, Axon Education Consortium, 2023

  • Honors, Awards, and Achievements
  • National Registry Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic
  • Instruction OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Risk

Richard Fikes

Instructor

Professional Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), EMS Instructor, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS), TCFP (Texas Commission for Fire Protection) Basic Firefighter/Instructor

 

Education

  • EMT Basic Course, South Plains College EMS Programs, 2007
  • Basic Fire Protection Course, Training Division Fire Academy, 2008
  • EMT – Intermediate and Paramedic Courses, Olton EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Training Program, 2011
  • TEEX Fire Training School, Instructor 1 Course, 2016
  • Paramedic, NREMT
 

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • 2023 American Ambulance Association Star of Life Honoree: The most prestigious honor in the EMS industry, the Star of Life Award recognizes the contributions of frontline providers who demonstrate extraordinary service to their patients, communities, or profession. Fewer than 1% of EMS professionals are estimated to have received this honor.
  • TXDSHS (Texas Department of State Health Services) EMT-P (Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic)

Traven Berrie

Instructor

Professional Certifications

  • NREMT- B
  • Texas DSHS EMT Instructor
  • American Heart Assoc. BLS Instructor
  • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Master Peace Officer
  • ALERRT Active Shooter Level 1 Instructor
  • Mental Health Peace Officer Certification
  • NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800, 907

Education

  • Concho Valley Regional Law Enforcement Academy, 2004
  • Texas EMS School, 2023

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • Meritorious Service Award, Sweetwater PD 2019
  • Officer of the Year, Colorado City PD 2012 & 2014

Derrick Boisey

Instructor

Professional Certifications

 Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT-P), Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Licensed Paramedic (LP)

Education

  • Associate of Fire Science, San Juan College, 2009
  • Associate of Science: Paramedicine, Texas State Technical College, 2013

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

  • Hurricane Harvey Disaster Response Team, Air Evac Lifeteam, 2017

Brooklyn Rhodes

Clinical Coordinator

Brooklyn Rhodes, the Clinical Coordinator, is a dedicated EMT with 4 years of experience, has successfully completed the Paramedic Program and will soon be nationally registered as a EMT – Paramedic. She has been with Axon since November 2023 in the Student Support department and has been the Clinical Coordinator since April.

Professional Certifications

 Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), EMS Instructor, NREMT / Texas Licensed Paramedic (In Progress)Texas Licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), NAEMT Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) Provider, NAEMT Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Provider

Tim Kelley

Instructor

Professional Certifications

Licensed Paramedic – LP, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 

Education 

  • Lonestar College EMT/Paramedic, 2019
  • Associates in Paramedicine, Lonestar College, 2020
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Grand Canyon University, 2021