Vaughn Arthur

President

 Vaughn joined DGAC in 1989 to provide administrative support for the training programs. He was named to the position of Director of Education and Training in 1991 and became DGAC’s principal classroom instructor in 1994. Vaughn took the helm as President of DGAC in December of 2011. Among his other duties, he often represents DGAC at UN, ICAO, and IMO dangerous goods meetings. 

Vaughn is a certified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA), has published articles in trade publications, and has contributed to course textbooks on hazardous materials transportation. In addition to training courses and conference presentations, he has been an invited lecturer at the International Maritime Academy in Trieste, Italy and at PIRA, International in the UK. He resides near Washington, DC.

Del Billings

Technical Director

Mr. Delmer (Del) F. Billings retired from the USDOT, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety serving as the Senior Regulatory Advisor, Standards and Rulemaking Division. Del was responsible for directing and mentoring rulemaking actions to incorporate special permits and approvals into the Hazardous Materials Regulations and well as generally managing other regulatory issues and various special projects.

Mr. Billings has served in several capacities during his more than 35 years of service with the Department of Transportation, both with PHMSA and the Office of Motor Carrier Safety. Previously, Mr. Billings served as Director, Special Permits and Approvals Division and was responsible for oversight and management of the issuance of special permits and various approvals authorized in both domestic and foreign regulations.

During Mr. Billings’ career with he has participated in several department-wide hazardous materials activities. Mr. Billings served as the RSPA representative on the Department-wide Hazardous Materials Program Review. He served a detail in the Office of the Secretary, assisting in the establishment of the Intermodal Hazardous Materials Program Office. Mr. Billings also served on the Department’s U.S. Coast Guard/TSA transition team. Del was also an Associate Staff instructor for the DOT’s Transportation Safety Institute, serving as an instructor of various hazardous materials courses.

Mr. Billings also worked for approximately 10 years for a chemical company near Cincinnati, Ohio. Del began his career there as a Chemist in the Quality Control/Assurance Department. He later assisted in the development of a computerized bill-of-materials system for the company. During Mr. Billings’ last four years, he was responsible for ensuring compliance with DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations, ensuring that the chemicals were properly classed, packaged, and correct hazard communication requirements were met. He developed a shipping manual, used by packagers of the various hazardous materials to ensure proper packaging compliance.

Mr. Billings has also been very active in many community activities and organizations. Mr. Billings is a former Volunteer Firefighter/EMT having served in both the administrative and line officer functions, including the rank of Assistant Chief of the Department. He is currently serves on the City of Bowie Public Safety Committee; is an active member and is currently Commander of Sons of the American Legion Disney-Bell Post 66; is a member of the Post’s Honor Guard Team,; and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, previously serving as Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator, and previously serving as a District Deputy.

Mr. Billings received his BS degree in chemistry, with a minor in biology and secondary education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Del lives in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife Rosetta. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Mike Morrissette

Technical Advisor

Mike Morrissette joined the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council in 1995 as Technical Director and was elected President in 2005. He retired as President in 2011, but has remained an Adviser on IMO and GESAMP. Previously, Mike spent 25 years with the U.S. Coast Guard in various positions involving regulations development for the maritime transport of dangerous goods. During his tenure with the Coast Guard, he served as Vice Chairman of the International Maritime Organization's Bulk Liquids and Gases Sub-Committee.

E. A. Altemos

Staff Associate

Edward A. Altemos has held key positions in the hazardous materials regulations development field with the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Transportation (DOT) and at the international level. At DOT he was responsible for all activities relating to the development of international hazardous materials transport requirements in all modes of transport. He represented the United States before various international organizations involved in the development of such regulations, including the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He provided guidance to shippers and carriers on domestic and international hazardous materials transport requirements. Immediately prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Altemos was employed by ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, where he was responsible for world-wide implementation of international regulations governing the transport of hazardous materials in aircraft.

Geoff Leach

Staff Associate

 Geoff Leach joined the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 1982, and joined the Dangerous Goods Office in 1990. In May 2002 he was appointed Head of the Dangerous Goods Office, also becoming the United Kingdom member of the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP), having attended all working group and Panel meetings since 1993 in the capacity of advisor. In November 2007 he was elected Chairman of the DGP, and also Chairman of the Dangerous Goods European Liaison Group, an informal body of European authorities and operators; he has also chaired the 6 IATA lithium battery workshops held to date. He was also an adviser to the United Kingdom expert at the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. In 2013, he left the CAA to form the Dangerous Goods Office Limited, offering training and consultancy to industry and regulators worldwide. He continues to attend all ICAO DGP meetings on behalf of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council.

In 2016 Geoff received the George L. Wilson Award, considered the highest form of recognition for an individual based on a lifetime of achievement in advancing the cause of safety in the transport of dangerous goods.

Felicia Shepherd