NATCHEZ GRAND HOTEL, NATCHEZ, MS

Rob Neale is currently on staff as an Instructor for ICC. Previously, he was the  International Code Council’s Government Relations Vice President for National Fire  Service Activities where he coordinated efforts to get the US fire service more engaged  in the code development and enforcement process.  Rob also served as the Deputy Superintendent for the United States Fire Administration  National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. He was responsible for development of  curriculum aimed at improving the professionalism of America’s fire service.  For six years, Rob managed the National Fire Academy’s Technical Fire Prevention  Curriculum; including fire inspection techniques, prescriptive and performance-based  fire and building code interpretation and application, fire protection systems function  design, installation and standards, and plan review for fire inspection personnel.  Rob was named 2023 ICC Educator of the Year. In 2012, he received the FEMA  Administrator’s Award for Innovation for his development of the popular Coffee Break  Training series.  He was more than 40 years’ experience in the fire protection field. He spent 22 years in  Washington state municipal fire protection as a fire chief, fire marshal, and fire fighter.  He served as charter member of the National Fire Protection Association Technical  Committee No. 1037 for “Professional Qualifications for Fire Marshal” and represented  the United States Fire Administration on the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Council.  Rob graduated from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security master’s degree  program at the Naval Postgraduate School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal  studies from Western Washington University.  

  Building Official, retired; 12 years construction experiences as self-employed contractor, 30 years inspection experience (10 years building inspector, 5 years plans examiner, 15 years building official) including single and multi-family residential, educational, industrial, business and mercantile occupancies including the Mall of America; Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education, University of Minnesota; Associate in Applied Science Degree in Building Inspection Technology, Inver Hills Community College; State of Minnesota Certified Building Official; Multiple International Code Council Certifications; ICC instructor, instructor for Housing and Building Inspection Institute at Certifications; ICC instructor; instructor for Housing and Building Inspection Institute at UW-Madison College of Engineering; instructor for MN licensed Residential Contractor continuing education seminars; past Chairman, and current Executive Officer of the Association of MN Building Officials; active member of the Association of MN Building officials, the 10,000 Lakes Chapter, MN Building Permit Technicians and the Upper Great Plains Region III Chapters of the International Code Council