Coffee Q&A with Chief John Burke – Air Sampling Technology for Healthier Buildings

Sandwich Fire Chief John Burke has been interested in measuring the level of pathogens in the air for a long time.  COVID-19 has brought the concept of air sampling to the foreground.  Chief Burke was featured in a recent New York Times article which focused on the success of the air sampling strategy he employs in his firehouse.  He will join us to share his experiences in studying and deploying air sampling devices for home and office.

John J. Burke is a 26-year member of the Sandwich (MA) Fire Department where he currently serves as Chief of the Department since 2018. From 2014-2018 he was the Deputy Fire Chief overseeing Operations, Community Risk Reduction and Special Operations. From 2004-2014 he was the Fire Prevention Officer, and 1998-2004 served as a Firefighter and Advanced EMT.

He is also the Associate Director and Graduate Instructor at the Boston University School of Medicine’s Graduate Program in Healthcare Emergency Management. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Emergency Management from Boston University. He has designed and delivered over 100 “hybrid” exercises to federal, state and local providers that emphasize learning and integration of private sector resources.

He has consulted for several Federal Agencies on Emergency Management and currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the Uniformed Health Services University in Bethesda, Maryland and UPENN School of Medicine’s Occupation Medicine Program.