Brian is a founding member of BSARD, active since May 2004 with his wife Connie. He has prior experience in K9 Search and Rescue dating back to 1998. In addition to his duties as a Senior K9 Handler, he is also active in Search Planning and Operations and Field Support. He is also BSARD’s primary Technical Resource Officer and organizational Treasurer. He is the alternate point of contact for team callouts.
Brian was one of the three original members of BSARD’s Board of Directors, serving from 2004 through 2006. He is also a current member of Board of Directors, having been elected in 2023.
He and his current K9 partner Lily are certified for Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land, and Human Remains Detection in Water.
(Watch these YouTube videos of Brian and Lily running a trail from the handler’s Point-of-View and from overhead Ohio’s Hueston Woods State Park.)
Prior certifications he has held with his K9 partners are Mantrailing (with Java, Bailey, and Kaia), Human Remains Detection on Land (with Java, Bailey, and Kaia) and Human Remains Detection in Water (with Java, Bailey, and Kaia).
Brian’s personal certifications include NASAR SARTECH II, NIMS ICS courses (100, 200, 700, and 800), and Adult, Child and Infant First Aid, CPR and AED. Other training he has completed throughout his career include GPS Navigation, Crime Scene Preservation, Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Awareness, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness, Personal Respiratory Protection, Personal Protection against Blood-borne Pathogens, and Canine First Aid.
He is an Amateur Radio Extra Class Licensee and is a FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot. He is the current Communications Advisor to the Ohio Federation of K9 Search and Rescue Teams.
Brian has his own technology business. He has a variety of scientific interests, and is also an accomplished photographer. (He took the photo on our Rainbow Bridge page as well as many of the photos throughout the web site.)
K9 Lily, Active since 2021
Lily is a female Labrador Retriever, born October 2021. She started training for her SAR career in January 2022.
She is currently certified for Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land, and Human Remains Detection in Water. She also has passed her American Temperament Test.
When Lily gets excited, she spins around clockwise.
K9 Kaia, Active from 2011 to 2024
Kaia is a female Border Collie mix, born February 2011. She started training for her SAR career in August 2011.
She was certified for Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land, and Human Remains Detection in Water. During her almost 13-year career she participated in 53 search operations.
Kaia retired May 2024 and passed away in December 2025.
K9 Bailey, Active from 2006 to 2019
Bailey was a female Labrador Retriever, born December 2005. She started training for her SAR career in July 2006.
Bailey was certified for Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land, and Human Remains Detection in Water. During her 13-year career career she participated in 49 search operations.
She retired in August of 2017 and passed away in June 2020.
K9 Java, Active from 2004 to 2010
Java was a female Labrador Retriever, born September 1997. She was a founding K9 member of BSARD, having come over with Brian and Connie in May 2004.
She was certified for Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land, and Human Remains Detection in Water. During the 6 years of her career spent with BSARD she participated in 21 search operations, the largest being after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Java retired from active search work in April of 2010 and passed away shortly after.
