Albert Peterson – Founder/CAO
A former North Providence Firefighter for over 30 years, Al recognized there was a dire need for education in his field. Having had over 10 years experience as an EMT instructor at another company, Al decided it was time to start his own firm. American Safety Programs and Training, Inc. was founded in April of 2006 with a mission of “Teaching Others to Save Lives.” Since inception, this proprietary school (recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Education) has been providing training and education in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Allied Health Professions. The school also offers courses and certification for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) as well as NAEMT (National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians).
Al Peterson holds certification in both EMT Basic and then EMT Advanced. He is also trained and certified for the following disciplines: EMS I/C, CPR instructor, HazMat (awareness and entry levels), EMS I. V. pump training instructor, WMD mass casualty Instructor and Firefighter Level-1.
For many years, Al was responsible for the training of over 100 coaches and lay people for the North Providence School and Recreation Departments. In Addition, Al developed the program within the North Providence Fire Department that implemented the upgrade to class-2 licenses for fire apparatuses. As a result, the force now carries such items as an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and several life-saving medications that they did not prior to this program.
Al’s highest honor was when he was decorated for meritorious citation of duty by the town of North Providence. He was recognized for his 30 years of service, his contributions to the force (especially the apparatuses program) and his dedication to education in the field. Providence, Rhode Island is home and his family are his fellow Firefighters. He is proud to continue to serve the people in his city amongst his brothers and sisters and help train the next generation of service men and women.
Jonathan Pascua – NRP – Chief Development Officer/CDO
Jonathan is a proud Rhode Island native. He grew up in Pawtucket and later moved to Coventry, Rhode Island. He’s a Career Firefighter/Paramedic (Rank of Lieutenant) with the Coventry Fire District. Jonathan began volunteering as a firefighter at 15 years old. He later obtained EMT Certification at 19 years old. At 23 years old He obtained EMT Cardiac certification. At 30 he studied and obtained the Mastery level certification of Paramedic. He holds Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor level certifications. He also holds Firefighter level 1, 2, Hazardous materials operations level, Weapons of Mass Destruction – Nuclear/Radiological Technician Level and Instructor level certifications. He is currently pursuing his Bachelors Degree in Emergency Medical Services with Roger Williams University.
As a Lieutenant with the Coventry Fire District, Jonathan has developed and implemented the department’s first ever EMS quality control program. He writes federal and state grants for funding for the fire district. He also oversees EMS billing operations at the departmental level. Jonathan is also credited with the development of the Town of Coventry’s Fire/Police first Fentanyl response protocol which has been recognized by Governor Gina Raimondo. Governor Raimondo approved state funding for the project. Jonathan also developed the department’s first LVAD protocol which unified efforts from the local hospitals and emergency aviatoin transportation crisis. As Lieutenant, Mr. Pascua works very closely with the Coventry Police Department and Coventry Emergency Management Agency in the handling of the current opioid crisis in the town of Coventry. In June 2010, Jonathan was honored with a certificate of merit by the Rhode Island Department of Health – Division of Emergency Medical Services for meritorious conduct during an immediate life threatening situation.
When Jonathan isn’t busy saving lives, you’ll find him pursuing his other interest with passion: aviation. He is a licensed FAA Airplane pilot with over 1000 hours in the sky. He’s been flying for over 10 years. He donates a large portion of his time and skill in aviation to rescuing animals in undesirable situations. In his “free” time Jonathan can be found snowboarding, playing piano, jet skiing, fishing and wakeboarding. He was featured in the 2018 holiday issue of Adrenaline Motorsports Magazine for his aviation background which included a profile on his years in service.
Bill Estrella, RN-NRP – Chief Programs Director/NREMT/Allied Health Program Director
Bill Estrella, RN-NRP has been actively involved in the delivery and teaching of patient care and system/organizational management, with a focus on Emergency Medical Services, in various Health Care, Community, and Field settings for over forty years as well as having many varied management and administrative roles. Bill is the Clinical Director/ Director of Nursing at Generations Comprehensive Health and Rehabilitation Services. He is a Registered Nurse; Nationally Registered Paramedic as well as being a Certified NAEMT Instructor; Fire Service Officer; Paramedic Program Director; Clinical Preceptor for URI, RIC, UMASS, St. Joseph’s School of Nursing; holds several national certifications and is a certified instructor for NREMT/NAEMT Advanced Level EMS programs; serves as Consultant to Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities and organizations in the development and implementation of Emergency Medical Service Programs along with engagements as Medical-Legal Consultant to several area law firms. Lieutenant Estrella has been active in the Warren Rhode Island Volunteer Fire Department on both an engine company and the Rescue Squad for 45 years. He managed hospital emergency departments and was both a Nationally Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and Massachusetts Critical Care / Emergency Nurse (CCEDNEP) as well as a proud Eagle Scout and former Scoutmaster.
Ronda Matarese – Assistant Chief Development Officer
Ronda has been an EMT-Cardiac in Rhode Island since 1990. She was a call Firefighter in East Greenwich in the early 1990’s and a Cardiac EMT for several ambulance companies. Ronda started teaching at CCRI as an adjunct instructor for the EMT program in 1990 and is still actively teaching today. When Rhode Island adapted the NREMT testing, she started tutoring students in preparation for the rigorous exam. She is proud to have a 98% pass rate for both basic and advanced students. Ronda became a valued asset to our EMS program in December 10, 2018 as the Exam Specialist Coordinator. Many EMTs in the state are in their respective careers and have saved thousands of lives because of her incredible skill in teaching others to save lives.“we are in it for the outcome – not the income…..never stop learning…”
Kevin Golmes – Office Manager
Biography coming soon.
Edward Jernigan – NRP – Paramedic Program Director
Ed Jernigan has been involved in emergency medical services for over 43 years. A proud Rhode Island native, Ed is originally from Bristol and just recently recently moved to Warwick. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Bristol Fire Department and obtained his EMT cerification in 1976. He then advanced to EMT Advanced/Cardiac in 1987. After making a decision to become a Paramedic, Ed decided to achieve his Paramedic certification at Cape and Islands EMS at Cape Cod Community College in 1991. Currently, Edward is a registered American Heart Association Instructor Coordinator in the state of Rhode Island. He holds instructor licenses in CPR, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, and other NAEMT programs. In addition to his work in emergency medical services, Ed also achieved a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and his MBA from Providence College.
Ed is no stranger to high intensity emergency situations as he has extensive experience in the field in both transfer medicine and emergency 911 areas. Though his career he held positions with Cataldo Ambulance, Alert Ambulance, Paramedic Systems, Fall River Fire Department, St. Luke’s Hospital Paramedics and American Medical Response. He currently serves on staff at Brewster Ambulance.
In addition to Ed’s robust knowledge of emergency medical services he also understands the importance and rigors of education. He owned and operated East Bay Medical Educators, an emergency medicine training school, for 9 years. During this time Edward coordinated and instructed classes in EMT-B, EMT-Cardiac, EMT- Paramedic, CPR, ACLS, and PALS. Ed also saw the need to offer his expertise to continuing education programs, community CPR and community first aid programs. Service at the heart of his ethos, Edward is also responsible for educating the Newport Navy Fire Department on paramedicine as well as teaching EMT and EMT Advanced/Cardiac programs to the Jamestown Ambulance Corporation. He developed the Paramedic program at East Bay and continues to work with them on developing the program curriculum.
Ed joined the American Safety Programs & Training Inc. family in 2014 and currently serves as our Paramedic Program Director. He is dedicated to his students and strives to provide the highest quality education, delivered by the finest practitioners in the field.
Ed has been happily married for over 30 years. He has one daughter. When not saving lives or educating others on how to do so, Ed is an avid reader and historian.
Cheryl Oliveria – NRP
Emergency Medical Program Director
Cheryl graduated from ASPT in 2015 as a paramedic. She started teaching for ASPT in 2015 all the EMS programs as well as all the AHA classes. She is a mentor for High School students and teaches Babysitting/ Child Care Safety for Middle School students.
Cheryl started om the medical field in 1994 as a CAN, working in the homecare field for over twenty years.
In 2013 she became an EMT- Basic amd continued her education to become a National Registered Paramedic working on an ALS/ IFT truck full time.
Recently she has advanced into the Administrative side of ASPT.