Mark DeJong, NRP, AWEMT

Mark DeJong, retired Nationally-Registered Paramedic and founder of Off Grid Medic LLC, has over 30 years of experience in treating victims of trauma and sudden illness. Based out of South Carolina, Mark has a degree in Emergency Medical Services and holds an Advanced Wilderness EMT certification. As part of a military assignment, he spent two years providing remote medical care to the indigenous people of the Philippines, where his passions for medicine and primitive living fused together. He serves on the Advisory Council at the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine, and has trained alongside elite members of the US Army and the US Marshals Service. Mark has served in several roles including field Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Director of Emergency Medical Services for a rural government EMS system, faculty at the Technical College System of Georgia, and Deputy Director of Emergency Management for a government agency. He considers himself a lifelong learner and, when not immersed in medical material, Mark continues to hone his outdoor skills. He is a proud graduate of the Pathfinder Advanced program and an original member of the Flint and Steel Primitive Skills Group. Mark has appeared on The Weather Channel, where he was featured on the series Uncharted Adventure. His teaching style is very interactive and informal, and he frequently uses personal experiences and humor to reinforce his material.

Bill Reese, NREMT, WEMT

A Nationally-Registered EMT, Bill formed an interest in medicine and training while helping his mother become a Registered Nurse. Realizing the rewards of training and education, he began a lifelong, progressive path of medical study. After learning the basics of first aid and sports injuries while serving as a football coach, Bill became a Radiology Assistant at a local hospital, where his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology were further developed. Since then he hasn’t stopped learning. Based out of Montana, he continues to use his skills to address the needs of injured and ill patients around the globe. Bill has encountered patients suffering from malaria and tuberculosis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), malaria and influenza in Ghana, routine injuries and exotic insect bites in Jamaica and Mexico, and even heat-related illness in Peru. Understanding the value of medical training when separated from definitive care, Bill earned his WFA, WFR and WEMT certifications, and is a graduate of The Pathfinder School’s Advanced Survival Program. He has also earned his Search and Rescue III certification, Swiftwater Rescue certification, and holds a HAM Radio License. Bill’s wide range of study in other countries as well as in various parts of the United States has provided an expansive knowledge around improvised medicine in austere environments.

Eric Ragan, M.D.

Dr. Ragan specializes in emergency and family medicine, and he brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill to our organization. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major Ragan served as Senior Medical Officer for his Forward Support Battalion, where he was tasked with stabilizing and evacuating victims of trauma and sudden illness in less than ideal circumstances. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Ragan enjoys hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and spending time with his family.

Alfonso Solis, WFR

Based out of Central Texas, Wilderness First Responder and CPR Instructor Alfonso Solis has dedicated his life to gaining and sharing information regarding critical incident prevention and response. He uses his bilingual skills to maximize the reach to his audience, which often consists of underserved populations. He can frequently be found teaching active shooter response, Stop The Bleed and CPR programs to school districts and religious organizations across the country. Alfonso is a graduate of Advanced SWAT School, Advanced Tactical Tracking School, Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) Training, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) and several other programs. Alfonso makes it quite clear to his students that improvised medical skills apply to the street side environment as well as the wilderness environment. He has very little downtime and has literally made it his life’s mission to practice his mantra, “Train Often!"