Ernesto Jr Cueto
South Gate,CA
Summary
Public safety and security professional with hands-on experience in wildland firefighting, emergency response, incident command, and access control. Supports evacuations, hazmat and medical calls, campus protection, equipment checks, and radio communication while helping maintain safe, ready operations.
Overview
1
1
Language
1
1
Certification
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Plant Protection Officer III
HRL Laboratories
Malibu, CA
04.2024 - 04.2026
- Led emergency preparedness, education, evacuations, and response initiatives to enhance overall safety.
- Responded to wildfires, hazmat incidents, and medical emergencies as part of HRLS Emergency Response Team, ensuring site safety.
- Lead Wildland Fire Responder and Trainer in the use of hand tools, chainsaws, and proper operations of a type 5 fire engine.
- Executed fuel mitigation measures around campus to safeguard valuable structures from fire hazards.
- Physical security of the sites and provides support during Emergency Operations
- Operated fire and life safety equipment during projects and emergencies.
- Inspection of fire protection equipment and check for system/equipment irregularities.
- Assist in the development of security briefings to include new hire security briefs, threat and vulnerability assessments, incident briefs.
- DoD Secret Security Clearance
Wildland Firefighter
Wildfire Defense System
Bozeman, Montana
04.2020 - 04.2024
- Serve as a wildland firefighter on an engine, water tender, and hand crew.
- Executed wildland fire duties including suppression, preparation, monitoring, and mop-up to ensure effective response to fire incidents.
- Operated fire engine (type 5), ran pumps, built hose lays, set up sprinkler protection systems, and applied water gel, foam, and retardant to enhance firefighting efforts.
- Perform hand crew duties including packing heavy loads of fuel, food, water, and tools for miles over rough terrain in hot and smoky conditions to get to the work site.
- Managed risk by enforcing LCES protocols and applying the Standard Firefighting Orders and the Watch Out Situations to maintain safety during assignments.
- Use Incident Command System (ICS) terminology, organization, and command structure.
- Communicate effectively using multichannel radios, prepare and program radios for assignments.
- Safely maintain all fire equipment that includes portable pumps, chainsaws, hand tools and type 5 fire engines.
- Conduct WUI operations according to guidelines.
- Use and maintain Personal Protective Equipment.
- Apply knowledge of fuels, terrain, weather, and fire behavior to make decisions and actions.
Rescue Technician
Ancon Services
Signal Hill, California
04.2022 - 06.2022
- Provided technical rescue standby for customer projects including confined space rescue and technical rope rescue.
- Assist in assessing risks, readying rescue equipment and planning practical and effective solutions towards safe working practices in compliance with clients' standards
- Acknowledge safety responsibilities, defined by the principal contractor and regulatory agencies prior to commencing work on the project
- Conducted hazard awareness training sessions, enhancing team preparedness for safety risks
- Developed site-specific safety rules to enhance workplace safety
- Ensured proper use of personal protective equipment in restricted areas
- Developed emergency response strategies, clarifying individual duties for efficient incident reporting
- Monitored project activities to promote safe job performance and mitigate risks
- Performed regular maintenance on the breathing air system to ensure safety
Wildland Firefighter
Mountains Recreation Conservative Authority
Calabasas, CA
06.2021 - 07.2021
- Protects Park visitors and structures in wildland fire situations (visitor evacuation), operate pumps, fill tanks, hose layout, line-cutting, water and foam lay-down, etc)
- Respond to emergency situations on parkland to protect life, property and resource.
- Assisted in emergency search and rescue efforts on parkland across diverse terrains, coordinating with local authorities during incidents such as brush fires and floods.
- Executed strenuous physical tasks, lifting and transporting heavy objects up to 90 pounds across distances of 50 feet to support firefighting operations.
- Demonstrated readiness for extended assignments in various locations across California. on an extended attack or a campaign fire assignment anywhere within California for up to 21 days.
- Administer emergency first aid to injured persons on park land.
- Patrolled and protected parklands, informed the provisions of the Public Resources Code, other codes, ordinances, etc., and wrote incident reports.
- Perform routine maintenance and repairs on agency vehicles and other equipment.
- Maintained positive relationships with coworkers, government agency representatives, non-profit organizations, homeowners associations, and the public to facilitate collaborative efforts.
Mail Handler
United States Postal Service
Bell, CA
11.2019 - 01.2020
- Sorted mail and packages for USPS mail processing operations.
- Sorted incoming mail for efficient distribution onto conveyor belts.
- Operated mail handling equipment and conveyors during Postal Service shifts.
- Moved mail containers with pallet jacks to designated areas for streamlined mail processing.
- Loaded and unloaded containers, sacks, and pallets in distribution areas.
Wildfire Response Technician
Consumer Fire Products Inc
Santa Barbara, CA
07.2019 - 11.2019
- Utilized brush trucks to patrol and help protect structures during wildfires.
- Worked long hours in diverse weather conditions and traveled for two-week assignments to support wildfire response efforts.
- Performed fire mitigation during the fire season.
- Utilized wildland firefighting tools, including Pulaski, chainsaws, and McLeod, to execute effective fire control measures.
- Installed wildfire protection systems during off-season and between wildfire events to enhance community safety.
- Installation of the company foam system to protect structures.
- Construct and fabricate copper runs and install PVC piping underground to complete the foam system to protect structures.
Front desk clerk/ Workers Compensation document specialist
Dr. Howard Sofen Dermatology
Westchester, CA
08.2017 - 07.2018
- Answered incoming patient calls, proactively resolving concerns to enhance patient satisfaction.
- Checked in patients and scheduled patients for appointments and follow ups.
- Verified patient medical insurance through web and phone, ensuring accurate coverage for services.
- Reviewed and summarized patients' workers compensation records for a doctor, improving information retrieval efficiency.
Coder/Biller/Insurance verifier
Horizon Ambulance
Orange, CA
11.2017 - 02.2018
- Executed medical coding and billing tasks with precision to maintain compliance and reduce claim denials.
- Assigned ICD-10 and CPT codes for ambulance billing records
- Reviewed Horizon Ambulance transport charts for accurate medical coding
- Verified diagnosis, procedure, and modifier details in patient documentation
- Verified patient medical insurance coverage through phone and web to ensure accurate billing.
Team Lead / trainer
Care Ambulance Services
Orange, CA
06.2015 - 05.2017
- Led coding team in billing department, consistently meeting daily productivity quotas.
- Managed and assigned workflow among employees, enhancing overall office efficiency.
- Performed quarterly coding audits with the leadership team for accuracy and precision of data.
- Reviewed medical documents for accuracy, identifying and correcting inconsistencies and deficiencies.
Insurance verifier/Coder
American Medical Response
Torrance, CA
10.2004 - 04.2014
- Applied accurate ICD-9 codes for medical billing to ensure compliance and maximize claim acceptance.
- Processed and submitted ambulance insurance claims using appropriate billing codes to ensure timely reimbursement.
- Coordinated communication with insurance companies regarding claims and eligibility to facilitate approval.
Sales Floor Rep
Target
South Gate, CA
07.2001 - 10.2004
- Assisted customers at the cashier registers during peak hours to ensure efficient service.
- Assisted shoppers in locating items and addressing inquiries, fostering a friendly and welcoming shopping experience.
- Unpacked boxes and organized new items on shelves, ensuring product visibility with neatly hung sale signs and updated prices.
- Returned misplaced items to their correct locations, maintaining cleanliness of aisles, shelves, and displays for a pleasant shopping environment.
Education
Red Helmet Training
Rancho Cucamonga, CA09-2024
Emergency Medical Service
Safety Unlimited Inc.
Simi Valley, CA10-2023
Emergency Medical Technology
Downey Adult School EMT Program
Downey, CA08-2022
High School Diploma -
South Gate Senior High School
South Gate, CA05-2001
SoCal EMT And Fire Training
Upland, CA10-2026
Some College (No Degree) - Wildland Fire Academy
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CASkills
- Emergency response
- Incident management
- Rescue operations
- Fire prevention tactics
- Hazard mitigation
- Risk assessment
- Threat assessment
- Equipment maintenance
- Radio communication
- Patient assessment
- Trauma care
- Decision-making
- Multitasking
- Attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills
- Active listening
- BSIS Guard Card
Certification
- Rio Hondo Wildland Fire Academy: Certificate of Achievement Basic Wildland Fire Academy- 487 Hours NWCG approved, Red Card Firefighter Type 2, CSFM Low Angle Rope Rescue Operational LARRO0668, CSFM Confined Space Awareness CSRA0464, HAZMAT First Responder Operations, AHA Heart saver First Aid CPR/AED Certification, NWCG Basic Land Navigation, NWCG S-131 Firefighter Type 1, NWCG S-219 Firing Operations, NWCG S-270 Basic Air Operations, NWCG S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws, NWCG S-211 Portable Pumps and Water Use, NWCG L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, NWCG S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, NWCG S-130 Wildland Firefighter Training, NWCG S-110 Basic Wildland Fire Orientation. FEMA: IS-00800.c, IS-00700.b, IS-00320, IS-00100.c, IS-00200.b, NWCG, NWCG S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior. Red Helmet Training: Fire Inspector 1A - 1D, Hazmat First Responder Awareness. Safety Unlimited Inc: Certificate of Completion- 21 Hour Public Safety First Aid Training In accordance with CCR Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 1.5, Article 3 Section 100017, Barrett Consulting: 24 Hour Hazardous Material Technician. 360 Training: 10-hour General Industry Safety and Health, 30-hour General Industry Safety and Health
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Plant Protection Officer III
HRL Laboratories
04.2024 - 04.2026
Rescue Technician
Ancon Services
04.2022 - 06.2022
Wildland Firefighter
Mountains Recreation Conservative Authority
06.2021 - 07.2021
Wildland Firefighter
Wildfire Defense System
04.2020 - 04.2024
Mail Handler
United States Postal Service
11.2019 - 01.2020
Wildfire Response Technician
Consumer Fire Products Inc
07.2019 - 11.2019
Coder/Biller/Insurance verifier
Horizon Ambulance
11.2017 - 02.2018
Front desk clerk/ Workers Compensation document specialist
Dr. Howard Sofen Dermatology
08.2017 - 07.2018
Team Lead / trainer
Care Ambulance Services
06.2015 - 05.2017
Insurance verifier/Coder
American Medical Response
10.2004 - 04.2014
Sales Floor Rep
Target
07.2001 - 10.2004
Red Helmet Training
Emergency Medical Service
Safety Unlimited Inc.
Emergency Medical Technology
Downey Adult School EMT Program
High School Diploma -
South Gate Senior High School
SoCal EMT And Fire Training
Some College (No Degree) - Wildland Fire Academy
Rio Hondo College