Lieutenant/Paramedic Cristino Colon is currently with the Chicago Fire Department. In the 23-years of career service, he has worked at numerous posts. Currently he is the Aviation Fuel Inspector for the Chicago Fire Department at Chicago Department of Aviation servicing both O'Hare and Midway International Airports. His post requires him to be on call for any emergencies at both airports; enforce and investigate any violations with regards to fueling safety and airport operations and inspect fueling vehicles (about 260 vehicles on a Quarterly basis), Jet-A storage facilities and pipeline by inspecting and auditing all fueling companies that fuel Aircraft at both O'Hare and Midway International Airports to insure compliance with current FAA Regulations. Is directly under chain of command of the District Chief of Airport Operations where he works in conjunction with the FAA Airport Certifier to ensure FAA Compliance. 

Certified to teach the FAA’s “Aviation Fire Safety Training Course” for 14 CFR section 139. He wrote the “Aviation Fuel Fire Safety & Inspection Course” for The International Fuel Safety Advisory, Inc. that has the certified course.

Throughout the course, he:

1. oTrains and introduces students to key understandings of the FAA Part 139.321 “Handling and storing of hazardous substances and materials,” all other pertinent Advisory Circulars and NFPA 407 standards with regards to Fuel Safety and Storage. 
   

1. oHelps examine the needs of Fire Safety Training from both the Supervisory position and the Fire Marshall Inspectors view. Emphasizes the proper maintenance of vehicles, correct procedure on handling and receiving Jet Fuel, proper record-keeping and its importance to both FAA inspectors, authorities having jurisdiction and fueling companies. 
   

1. oHelps discern, familiarize and comprehend a basic knowledge and understanding of fueling operations as they are related to the General Aviation Airport environment and the fast-changing global Aviation Industry.
   

1. oUpon completion of the Aviation Fuel Fire Safety & Inspection course, students receive a 2-year Certification recognized by the FAA and pertinent Airport Authorities.
   

Has successfully completed the Rampmaster Instruction Class for Modular Refueling Vehicles Instruction Course on correct and proper vehicle maintenance in Coatesville, PA.  and is a current member of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Aviation Section and a current Alternate on the NFPA Technical Committee on Aircraft Fuel Servicing. 

Through the Illinois Fire Service Institute at the University of Illinois, he is certified as an Instructor I, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Responder for Hazardous Materials Operations. From the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall, is certified as an Airport Firefighter and a Hazardous Materials First Responder. 

From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he is Certified WMD Radiological/Nuclear Hazardous Materials Technician and WMD Incident Responder and Terrorism Responder. From New Mexico Tech's Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, he completed the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Program.