Trey Nelms is a second generation Firefighter that has been around the fire service his entire life. Trey has 20+ years in career and volunteer Fire Departments throughout Middle Tennessee. He has served in a wide variety of positions from Probie to Chief of Department. Trey is a Nashville, TN. firefighter where he is currently assigned to Rescue Co 12 A, a special operations unit on the city’s south side. Rescue Co.12 responds to Structural Fires, Technical Rescue calls, Hazardous Material incidents, crashes with entrapment, and other specialized emergencies throughout the city.

Trey has an Associates Degree in Fire Science, is a State of Tennessee Fire Instructor, Fire Officer II, and Paramedic. He is also a member of TN-TF 2, a state Urban Search and Rescue Task Force that deploys from Nashville.

Trey has been the President of the Middle Tennessee FOOLS, since our inception.  He is also the 1st Vice President of the Tennessee Fireman’s Association.

Joe Polenzani started his career in the fire service nineteen years ago as a volunteer firefighter with the Ashland City (TN) Fire Department. He spent ten years with the department, the last four as a captain.

In 1998, Joe became a full-time firefighter with the Franklin (TN) Fire Department. In the last twelve years, he has served as a rescue company firefighter, a truck company lieutenant, an engine company captain, and administrative services officer. Joe is currently chairman of Franklin’s training committee, a recruit school instructor, and has developed and taught numerous classes for the department’s state in-service training program.

Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration and is a state-certified Firefighter II, Apparatus Operator, Fire Officer II, Safety Officer, and Instructor. He has also earned numerous certifications in technical rescue and is a TN EMT-IV. In addition to his work in Middle-Tennessee, Joe has been chosen four times to teach at the annual Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis.

Joe is a member of the International Association of Fire Service Instructors and proudly serves as Vice President of the Middle-Tennessee F.O.O.L.S.

Brian Felts is newly inducted and elected to serve as our Secretary Treasurer and is an 11 year veteran of the fire service. Brian joined fire service with the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (W.E.M.A.) at age 19.  Served as a Firefighter/EMT-IV and finished as a Firefighter-Paramedic.  Although primarily serving as line firefighter-paramedic, he also worked with the department's Hazardous Materials team at Operations Level, and the Dive Team as a Swift-water Rescue Tech. Brian left W.E.M.A. in 2005 for employment with the Nashville Fire Department, fulfilling a childhood dream. Brian is affectionately known as a 'crossover' as he briefly served as Paramedic for Nashville Fire Department's EMS division for nine months before transferring to Fire Suppression. He is currently assigned to an ALS Engine Co.33 / Boat 33 in South Nashville as a Firefighter-Paramedic.  

CERTIFICATIONS:   Associate of Applied Science Degree- Paramedic Technology   Currently working to complete Bachelors of Science Degree - Fire Science Technology   Journeyman Firefighter - State of Tennessee   EMT-Paramedic - State of Tennessee   Swift Water Rescue Tech. - Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads   Hazardous Materials: Operations Level - State of Tennessee   When not playing with fire or stomping out disease and pestilence, he is an avid Fly Fisherman and fly-tier.

Jeff Huddlestonis our Membership Trustee and travels the length and breadth of our great state visiting 700+ fire departments. We are excited about Jeff being our ambassador and bringing many like-minded brothers to our fine organization.

Bryan Rigsby is bringing energy and service to our members and will be working hard to provide quality merchandise to our membership in a convenient manner.

Bryan Rigsby is a 3rd generation Firefighter who became involved in the emergency services over 15 years ago.
He has served in various career and volunteer organizations, filling multiple roles. Some of his work has taken him as far away as the Island of Guam.
Bryan is a Firefighter with the Nashville Fire Department, where he has been employed since 2004.
He is currently assigned to Engine Co. 10 - "Life is Hard on The Boulevard."

Dave Brasells joined the fire service in 2001 with the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department and currently a career firefighter with Nashville Fire Department where he's a part of NFD Special Operations on Truck 21 B and TN Task Force 2 USAR

Dave is a state certified Fire Instructor I, Fire Inspector I, Fire Officer I, and EMT-IV. Dave has a bachelor of arts degree in Radio & Television Broadcasting and had a 22 year career as a photojournalist and producer in television. He has had a 'back stage pass' to life in TV before starting a second career as a firefighter.

Dave believes in the tradition of the fire service to 'pass it along' with the belief that training is a key tool in prevention education so EVERYONE goes home! Dave has focused on High Risk/Low Frequency Fire-ground Training needs including MAYDAY, Flashover Recognition/Survival, Firefighter Survival, and Firefighter Rescue Classes and Instruction.

Scott Baker brings several years of experience and passion to our training .

Scott Baker entered into the Fire/Rescue service as a volunteer in 1994. Scott was hired with the Nashville Fire Department in 1997 where he served as a Firefighter on an Engine in downtown Nashville. He then worked a few years on Truck 3 before serving as a Firefighter Paramedic on Engine 9. Scott has been an Engineer since 2006 and currently drives Truck 3 in East Nashville.

Since his inception as a Firefighter, Scott has sought out specialized training. Any and all things rescue and truck work has since been his passion. For the past ten years, Scott has had extensive training in Firefighter Rescue and Survival and currently teaches this class to the Recruits as they enter into the Nashville Fire Dept. Scott also instructs Rapid Intervention and Flashover.


Scott has an Associates Degree in Fire Science and is only a few semester hours away from his Bachelors Degree. Scott is a Tennessee State Fire Instructor, Fire Officer I and has a multitude of certificates.