ROBERT L. STEPHENS, CFI, CFEI

Robert Stephens serves as the Director of Fire Investigations. Robert was a professional fire fighter with the city of Utica Fire Department for 23 years. During his career, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and retired as a Fire Marshal. Over his career, Robert was deployed to several major incidents throughout the United States including Ground Zero on September 11, 2001 and hurricanes Katrina and Rita for Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2005.

Robert is a Certified Fire Investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), and a Certified Fire and Explosive Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). As Fire Marshal, Robert was a member of the Utica Arson Task Force, the International Association of Arson Investigators Technical Working Group and is currently a member of the Oneida County Arson Task Force. He is a published author of several articles on hazardous material as it relates to the safety of fire investigators and has participated in the development and creation of new IAAI 40-hour Foundation Course in Fire Investigation.

In his spare time, Bob enjoys football, hockey and is an avid fisherman.