Background
Mr. Michael Anderson is a Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI) with a Motor Vehicle Endorsement with the International Association of Arson Investigators. Mr. Anderson is a Licensed Private Investigator in South Carolina. He served as a Special Agent with the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for over 20 years, the last 7 years as a Certified Fire Investigator (ATF-CFI). As an ATF-CFI, he responded to approximately 350 fire scenes, including vehicles and residential and commercial structures. Mr. Anderson also participated in several of ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) investigations in fire and explosion losses in North Carolina. Mr. Anderson has completed numerous educational seminars and classes in the field of fire investigation throughout his career, including obtaining his Master of Science Degree in Forensic Sciences with an emphasis on fire and explosive investigation.
Mr. Anderson has coordinated and instructed continuing education training seminars in fire investigation for state and local fire investigators and law enforcement investigators tasked with the investigation of fire and explosion incidents. Mr. Anderson has also instructed and given the following presentations in Fire Investigation and Fire Dynamics for several local community colleges and fire departments: Report Writing and Scene Documentation for the Arson Investigators. Mr. Anderson responded to Explosive Incidents and processed Explosive Scenes with state, local, and federal investigators. Mr. Anderson has also been an instructor for fire-related classes at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy in Glynco, Georgia.
Mr. Anderson has over 30 years of combined investigative law enforcement experience as a Police Officer and Detective for the Fayetteville, North Carolina, Police Department; Bruce and Derma, Mississippi, Police Departments; and as a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mr. Anderson also served as a special investigator with the United States Department of Justice under the Regime Crimes Liaison Office assisting the Iraqi authorities in the prosecution of the Iraqi Regime offenders. Mr. Anderson was in the United Sates Army conducting combat operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.
Education and Certifications
• Master of Science in Forensic Science with Emphasis on Arson & Explosive Investigations (2020): Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma (2020)
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: University of Mount Olive, Mount Olive, North Carolina (1999)
• North Carolina Law Enforcement Training, Fayetteville, North Carolina: Basic Law Enforcement Training, 1995; North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, 2000
• Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy, Tupelo, Mississippi: Basic Law Enforcement Academy, 1992
• Department of the Treasury, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA: Criminal Investigator Training Program, CI-113, 2001; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms New Agent Training, 2001
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives: Certified Fire Investigator, 2014; Certified Fire Investigator Re-Certification Training, 2014-2020
• Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma: Forensic Science with Emphasis on Arson & Explosive Investigations Program, 2015-2020
• United States Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas City, MO: Hazardous Materials Incident Response Operations, 2016
• National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD: Fire Arson Origin & Cause Investigation (R206), 2014; NFPA 921 & 1033, 2014; The Scientific Method, 2014; Fire Dynamics & Building Construction, 2014; Flashover & Documenting an Investigation, 2014; Injury & Fatal Fire Investigations, 2014; Fire Scene Examination, 2014
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Huntsville, AL: Electrical Aspects of Fire Investigations (R255) – 2015; Courtroom Techniques for Fire Investigators – 2015; Fuel Air Explosives & Photography, 2015; Small Electric Appliance Fires, 2016; Lithium Ion Batteries and Industrial Lighting, 2018
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fire Research Lab, Ammendale, MD: ATF Enclosure Fires, 2016; Fire Alarm & Detection System, 2016; Fire Suppression Systems, 2016; Sprinkler Systems Post Fire, 2016
• International Association of Arson Investigators, North Carolina Chapter: Annual North Carolina/South Carolina Joint Training Seminar – 2014-2019, 2021; Solid Fuel Burning Appliances & Chimney Fires, 2014; Electric Appliance Fires, Ventilation Flow Paths & Fire Growth, 2014; Collection & Preservation of Evidence, 2014; Fundamentals of Investigations of Fire involving Light Fixtures, 2015; Theory & Diagnosis of Overheated Connections & Receptacle Fires, 2015; Fire Fatalities & Homicides & Arson Scene Search & Evidence, 2015; Wildland Fire Origin & Cause Determination, 2016; Explosives & IEDs, 2016; Forensic Electrical Surveys & Arc Mapping, 2016; Advanced Fatal Fire Investigations, 2017; Arson Profiling & Fire Ventilation Effects, 2017; Fire Protection Systems, 2018; Fire Patterns & NCIB, 2018; Interviewing Techniques, Mock Trail, Juvenile Fires, 2019; Electrical Fires/Arc Mapping, 2019; Solar Panels/Electric Vehicles, 2019; CSST Examinations, 2021; Preparing for Expert Witness Testimony, 2021; Documenting the Fire Scene, 2022; Statement Analysis, 2022; Challenges to Expert Qualifications, Methodology, & Opinions, 2022; Wildlife Fire Pattern Recognition & Evidence Collection, 2022; Juvenile Firesetters, 2022; K9 Operations, 2022; Fundamentals of Fire Investigation, 2022; Prevalence of Hypothesis at Fire Investigations, 2022; Advanced Fire Fatality Scene Techniques, 2022; Fire Investigator Safety, 2023; Strategic Suspect Interview Techniques, 2023; WCU Burned Remains, 2023; Li-Ni Batteries, 2023; Fire Dynamics, 2023; Drones, 2023; Safety Practical, 2023
• International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.: Certified Fire Investigator #24-063042 – 2016–Present
• International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.: Credential Motor Vehicle Fire Endorsement – 2023–Present
• Member: International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.; International Association of Arson Investigators, North Carolina Chapter
• Private Investigator: South Carolina (2021–Current); North Carolina (2021–Current)