OSA utilizes a cadre of instructors with vast and varying public safety experience.
All of our instructors are current or former public safety professionals.
OSA's Lead Staff
Joseph Bourquin
Christopher Gray
Brittany Cunha
Joseph Bourquin
Founder / CEO
With 26 years in the Rhode Island Fire Service currently serving the Town of Tiverton Rhode Island. His career service started in the town of Coventry in 2003 achieving the rank of Lieutenant before transferring to Portsmouth FD in 2021.After his promotion to Lieutenant in 2017, achieved a collateral duty assignment to the Coventry/West Warwick Police Regional SWAT Team. He served as the team medical officer and developed the Rescue Task Force Training. Additionally, he was the President of Coventry Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3372.
Additional past service includes:
Rhode Island School of Design Department of Public Safety, East Coast Protective Services Newport RI, Warren RI Volunteer, Captain of HMVFC Barrington RI, and Fire Chief for the Nasonville Fire District of Burrillville RI. During his service as Chief of NFD he was an active member of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs’ Mutual Aid Association. He worked to establish several initiatives for firefighter health & safety, RIT training & response.
Working with the best from the region he established a training and consulting firm, OSA Group LLC, also known as One Step Ahead Consulting. Collaborating with Truck Company Manifesto, First Aid Tactics and East Coast Training Consultants. We are leaders in several projects around Southern New England including Active Shooter Response for Fire/EMS. Since 2017 Teaming up with RI DOT, Traffic Options LLC, Drive Engineering, and RI Municipal Police Academy to develop the online learning platform of the TIMS training.
One Step Ahead
Christopher Gray
Master I/C
Owner/Operator of Truck Co. Manifesto, he established TCM in early 2020 to provide truck company operations training and prop/tool design and manufacture.
Chris has served in the Rhode Island fire service since 1993 starting in the town of Lincoln in the district of Lonsdale becoming a Lt. In 1998. He also was employed by the town of Lincoln rescue service from 1997 to 2003 where he achieved the rank of Lt as well.
In 2003, Chris left Lincoln for a busier department and landed in the city of Central Falls where he is still employed today serving as the Captain of Ladder 1 “ The Sparkle City Truck “. Recently promoted to Battalion Chief and Shift Commander.
Additionally he was a member of Rhode Island’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force where he was a Rescue Specialist and was a Squad Leader of D Squad. During this time he became an instructor and served as Central Falls Fire Department Training Officer and oversaw their Fire Academy.
In 2015 Chris became a Fire/Arson Investigator and an Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal. He was sent to URI and became certified in the BCI program (Basic Criminal Investigation). He currently serves on the Rhode Island IAAI committee.
In 2014 he became a Rhode Island Fire Academy instructor where he has achieved Lead Instructor status for the Municipal Fire Academy and became a Technical Rescue Instructor, Aerial Operator Instructor, NFPA 1021/1041 Instructor, R.I.T. Instructor, and an Instructor Coordinator.
He also teaches several other programs for his own company, such as: Street Smart Forceable Entry, Short Staffing Ground Ladders, and Saws for the Fire Service. He is currently working on the Protestor Removal Program that should be done in 2022.
Chris is certified in or has attended several programs. Just a few of which include, Law Enforcement First Responder TECC, BMAP Community Liaison, NFPA 1403 Live Burn Instructor for A & B, ICS 100/ 100-HC / 200 / 300 / 700 / 706 / 800, PER-361 TECC for ICS, TECC, Incident Safety Officer, Incident Response for Supervisors Responding to IED Explosive Incidents, EMS Operations & Planning for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Emergency Response to Terrorism Heavy Rescue Operations, and an instructor for New Mexico Techs Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing program (IRTB).
His commitment to excellence in the fire service and the fire education arena makes him not only a teacher, but a student as well.
“ You can’t train enough for a job that can kill you! “
Brittany Cunha
Executive Coordinator
With the company from its inception, the EC gets it done and is the direct support to all core roles, as well as weekly operational duties and record keeping. Brittany manages our small fleet at OSA.
Brittany joined the ranks of the Little Compton, RI Fire Department as the first female firefighter in the department’s history. She currently holds the following licenses/certifications: AEMT, RI Cardiac, NFPA 1001, 1002, 1072, 1021, Rescue Task Force AWR 3000, OPS 3000, C-TECC, AHA CPR instructor, NRA RSO, ICS 100/200/700/800, as well as an associate degree in Law Enforcement from CCRI.
