Hello, my name is Hank Hill, and I am excited about the opportunity to teach here at Bonds Career Center. Most of my adult life has been devoted to public service and helping others. 1991 I became a Flight Medic in the United States Air Force Reserves. While training to become a Flight Medic, I earned my National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification (EMT) in 1992 and found my passion for emergency services. I later cross-trained in Fire Protection, where I finished my 20-year career in the military. While in the military, I served as a Station Captain at Al Udied Airbase in Qatar, as Assistant Chief of Operations at Bagdad International Airport in Iraq, and retired as the Assistant Chief of Training for the South Carolina Air National Guard.

As a civilian, I started my fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter with the Duncan Fire Department. This is the place that taught me the importance of serving my community and ignited my love for the fire service. While volunteering, I also became a career firefighter at Lake Cunningham Fire Department and later worked at Pelham Batesville Fire Department, Simpsonville Fire Department,  Croft Fire Department, and currently with the City of Greer Fire Department. In 2006 I left the fire department and went to work for Spartanburg EMS. While working for SEMS I was a member of the Dive Rescue Team, and Technical Rescue Team, and also served as a SWAT Medic for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and Spartanburg City Police Department. I left SEMS in 2017 to become a Health Science teacher at Riverside High School. During my seven years at Riverside, I started an EMS program and have taught the EMT course for the last two years.

Training is one of the most important aspects of becoming a firefighter! Throughout my career, I have earned the following South Carolina and IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation Congress) certifications. I hold my Firefighter I & II certifications, Airport Firefighter, Driver/Operator ARFF, Driver Operator Pumper, Driver Operator Mobile Water Supply, Telecommunicator I & II, Hazardous Materials Operations/Technician/Incident Command, Fire Instructor I, II, & III, Fire Officer I, II, & III, Fire Inspector I, and Rescue Technician I & II certifications. In addition to my firefighting certifications, I am also a National Registry and South Carolina Paramedic. In 2013 I earned my Associate in Applied Science General Technology Paramedic through Spartanburg Community College and have taken classes through Western Carolina University in EMS Management.

Firefighters are a prime example of Life Long Learners! Most of what firefighters do is train for what could, and will eventually happen, just not every day. Most departments do not respond to a burning building or a chemical spill every day,  but they prepare themselves for these incidents through training. I am looking forward to working with the students at Bonds Career Center to prepare them for a rewarding career as a fire and EMS professional.