Meet the outstanding staff at Sussex County Community College's Public Safety Training Academy. These accomplished instructors are experts in their discipline. They guide students in their academic pursuits and help them achieve their goals.
John is the Battalion Chief and Tour Commander with the Teaneck Fire Department in New Jersey, with over 29 years of fire service experience. He holds various credentials, including Fire Officer (FO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Graduate Grade (GIFireE) from the Institution of Fire Engineers, and Training Officer (TO) from The International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and is a National Fire Academy alumnus. John is dedicated to training and mentoring future fire officers.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Kill The Flashover, directs the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy, and manages the Fire Science Technology program at SCCC. A former U.S. Marine, John values discipline, education, and servant leadership. His passion is helping others grow through advanced training, aiming to inspire future leaders in the fire service. John has spoken at numerous conferences, including Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, FDIC, and international events like the International Fire Rescue Training Academy in Germany.
SFI Crift has been in the fire service and EMS, holding many positions as a professional and volunteer for 45 years. He is retired from the City of Bayonne Fire Department after nearly 30 years of service. He is an instructor of many disciplines, including fire, rescue, EMS, and Rescue Task Force. SFI Crift is currently Deputy Chief responsible for Operations at the PSTA and Commander of the Sussex County Rescue Task Force.
SFI Southard has over 40 years of service with the Sussex Fire Department and served as its Chief of Department from 1999-2000. He has 25 years of service with the PSTA and was recently promoted to Instructor-In-Charge overseeing curriculum development and instructor professional development. He is married with five children and one grandchild. His interests include hunting and NASCAR. We wish to thank him for his continued service to our county and for seeking continuous improvement for the PSTA.
John A. Hayowyk Sr. began his volunteer fire service in 1971, in the City of Passaic, as a member of the Passaic Civil Defense Auxiliary to the City of Passaic Fire Department. As a result of several career moves, he has been a member of three additional volunteer fire departments, Elmwood Park Volunteer Fire Department, NJ, Kings Park Volunteer Fire Department, NY, and is currently a past Department Chief and active member of the Roxbury Township Volunteer Fire Department in New Jersey.
John Hayowyk Jr. has been in the fire service for 31 years. He recently retired as a Battalion Chief for the City of Passaic FD in New Jersey. John has spent over half his career assigned to the truck companies in his department. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Training Division. As a Captain, he was once again assigned to the Training Division, then back into combat, sharing time on both the Tiller and the Tower until he was promoted to Battalion Chief in December of 2020.
He has been a fire service instructor since 1997 and has taught at the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy since 2002. He started his fire service career as a volunteer with the Roxbury Twp. FD in NJ and has recently joined the Sparta Twp. Volunteer FD to continue to give back to his community.
John is humbled to have had articles published in national trade magazines. He teaches at multiple conferences both locally & nationally. John is NJ’s Lead Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and an Adjunct Professor of Fire Science at the Sussex County Community College.
