About Us

A collage of photos with various workers working on the roof.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

At KD Fabrication, we bring over 35 years of combined experience in custom metal fabrication and design. We’re passionate about crafting innovative, high-quality solutions for various industries, including rescue services, industrial clients, and commercial projects. Our team is dedicated to providing precision-engineered products that meet the unique needs of our clients, from specialized training props to complex metal structures we also provide and work with industry leading instructors for fire service disciplines to offer you state of the art training and curriculum development.

Meet Our Team

Founders

Patrick O'Brien (Owner / Lead Instructor )

Has been a professional firefighter, graphic designer, and fabricator for 22 years serving with 3 different fire departments and owner of 2 private fabrication firms. Currently holding the rank of Captain in training, Pat has a steep background in technical rescue and truck company operations and has designed curriculums and instructed technical rescue and truck company disciplines for over 15 years. Pat is a certified Rescue 3 International instructor and is a member in good standing with the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. Co- inventor of the SVT (Submerged vehicle trainer), Pat is skilled in CAD (computer aided design) and engineering and has developed many fire service related training adjuncts. He has instructed for many 3rd party companies, written and designed reference manuals, field guides and lesson plans, served as a subject matter expert (SME) in technical rescue litigations and has presented at various conferences. Pat also owns a pre-fire drafting company and has drawn over 370 pre-incident plans throughout his career. Former member of WATF-1 (FEMA Urban Search and Rescue) and current Training Officer for the South King County Fire Training Consortium, Pat brings a unique skillset to KD Fabrication and KD Rescue as he is our lead instructor, curriculum developer, adjunct fabricator, and lead product development engineer. Weather he’s working with a torch or on a computer, there is a good chance you’ll see him in the field or train on something he’s had his hands in.

Jeff Hartjoy (Owner / Lead Fabricator)

Brings over 30 years of experience of metal fab, welding and machining to KD Fabrication. Prior to the formation of KD Fabrication, Jeff owned and operated two other metal fabrication business in the greater Seattle area with an outstanding reputation for his work with stainless and aluminum alloys, and his ability to bring an engineers or designers idea to life. Jeff is certified with the American Welding Society (AWS) and Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO).

Jeff also raced sprint cars for 12 years and spent 2 of those years racing full time while based out of Indiana while working alongside some of the racing industries best fabricators and engineers. Jeff has vast experience in the commercial, industrial and high-performance industries. As Co-inventor and lead fabricator of the Submerged Vehicle Trainer, Jeff’s extensive background in racecar fabrication and design can be seen in the SVT.

For the past 14 years Jeff has also been a Professional Firefighter and has been assigned to a Tower Ladder since 2014. As Co-Owner of KD Rescue, Jeff has been an adjunct instructor teaching Truck Company Ops, Aeriel Dynamics and Swiftwater. Jeff has built a reputation as an exceptional instructor due to his competency, communication skills and adaptability to all different learning styles.

Lead Instructors

JEFF GREENE (Lead Instructor)

Jeff has been Fire fighter with Puget Sound Fire for 21 years. He has previously worked on the hazmat team for 8 years, ladder truck as an engineer for 4 years, 2 years as a ladder captain, and Rescue captain for the past 4 years. Jeff is the lead rope instructor for Zone 3 and has been teaching rope rescue for past 7 years. Jeff also serves as a Rescue Specialist for FEMA UAS&R WATF-1

Mike Degooyer (Lead Instructor)

Mike currently serves as a Captain on Rescue 7 at Puget Sound Fire. He previously spent 5 and a half years as a Firefighter with the same Heavy Rescue company honing his skills and leadership attributes. Passionate about rescue company operations on the fire ground and all tech rescue disciplines, Mike excels in instruction and curriculum development for our rope, extrication, and structural collapse disciplines. Mike is currently an Instructor for Puget Sound Fire, Zone 3, and the greater Puget Sound region for Rope, Extrication, Structural Collapse, Elevator and Fire ground Search.

Brandon Phillips (Lead Instructor)

Brandon joined the Fire Service in 2004 at a rural fire department in Central Washington, transferred to South King County from 2006 to 2024 during which time spent a majority of his time on a truck company and the last 5 years of his career on a Heavy Rescue. Brandon was a rescue specialist / heavy equipment / rigging specialist for FEMA Washington US&R TF-1 from 2014-2024. After retiring from the fire service, he started a new career as a lineman where he is currently an apprentice for the Bonneville Power Administration assigned to the Ellensburg transmission line crew. He is responsible for the maintenance and construction of high voltage transmission lines which include wood and lattice steel structures throughout the BPA service area. Brandon is one of our lead instructors for Tower Rescue and Rope Rescue with subject matter expertise in many of our rescue disciplines.

Ryan Rodenberg (Lead Instructor)

Ryan is currently in his 18th year in the Fire Service, after a brief 6 year stint as a special education teacher. Drawn to rescue because of his love for the outdoors. Ryan has spent the last 9 years as our lead Swiftwater instructor for our SRT1, and Swiftwater Advanced courses, as well as an adjunct instructor for our Watercraft, Rope Rescue and Rescue Swimmer programs.

Ryan's family is very important to him! With two daughters and his wife, Ryan is surrounded by 3 beautiful women as he considers himself the Luckiest guy on the planet. Ryan's skillset isn't built with luck, but with compassion and a talent for instruction built on experience. Ryan enjoys mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and rafting in his very limited spare time!

Dylan Guyll (Lead Instructor )

Dylan Guyll started in the Fire Service 18 years ago as a Resident Firefighter and was hired with Renton Fire Department shortly thereafter. Dylan has an extensive background working as a mechanic on semi trucks and trailers along with skillsets in Welding and fabricating and commercial construction and demolition. Dylan currently rides as a LT for Ladder 11 in downtown Renton WA. Dylan absolutely lives for truck work and is passionate about always learning and trying to improve. Ladder 11 is considered a Squad, providing rope rescue, structural collapse, extrication, trench and confined space support not just to the City of Renton, but all of South King County WA. Dylan is a Lead Instructor for our truck academy and Aerial Dynamics courses along with serving as an adjunct instructor within the technical rescue disciplines.

Jordan McClain (Lead Instructor )

Jordan is our Tree/Arborist Rescue Specialist and currently serves as a fireman and engineer with Rescue 7 at Puget Sound Regional Fire. Jordan has been assigned to the Heavy Rescue for over seven years and is passionate for all things rescue. He instructs multiple rescue disciplines within the greater Puget Sound region and Zone 3. Jordan recently organized, implemented and led the first ever arborist rescue program across two rescue companies. Before becoming a structural firefighter, Jordan was part of a 20-person wildland crew that fought large incident wildfires across the country. Jordan is a strong believer in lifelong learning and attends as many professional education opportunities as he can.

Pete Askevold (Lead Instructor )

Pete joined the fire service 25 years ago and immediately joined the Special Ops team with focus on Rope Rescue and Swiftwater. In 2010 Pete became a Rescue 3 Swiftwater instructor for the South King County Fire Training Consortium serving over 100 Swiftwater technicians with initial and ongoing training. Pete is currently the Lead Swiftwater instructor for the South King County Fire Training Consortium and splits time as our Advanced Watercraft and Advanced Swiftwater Instructor lead

Lincoln Smith (Lead Instructor )

Lincoln has been involved in Fire and EMS for 8 years and was previously employed as a strength coach for over 15 years. Lincoln brings an added skillset to Truck Company operations, Forcible entry, and our technical rescue disciplines.

Aaron Boyce (Lead Instructor )

Aaron has been in the fire since 2013 and has been assigned to a Heavy Rescue Company since 2019. Aaron is the Lead Instructor for Extrication and Elevator Rescue for Zone 3 and the greater Puget Sound Area. Aaron is unique in that his skill sets also include instruction and curriculum development within the disciplines of trench, structural collapse, and the South King County Truck Academy. Aaron is a forerunner in the push for aggressive search tactics and its implementation and integration throughout the region.