Certified as an EMT in 1997 and a Washington State Paramedic in 2000, Matthew Cook brings over 25 years of diverse, frontline medical experience to the classroom. Spending nearly two decades on medic units, their dynamic career spans the entirety of Washington State—from managing remote emergencies in the wheat fields of Walla Walla to providing high-acuity care along the shores of Bellingham. A credentialed Senior EMS Instructor since 2013, Matthew has successfully trained hundreds of responders across the fire service, institutional, and private sectors. Today, they continue to lead from the front as a Fire Company Officer for the Bellingham Fire Department, operating out of the busiest station in Whatcom County. For students, this exceptional blend of statewide rural experience, high-volume urban 911 leadership, and decades of clinical practice provides an unparalleled, highly practical learning environment.