Dave Van Holstyn began his formal technical rescue training in 1993 as a charter member of the GRFD confined space rescue team, but his exposure to working at heights started in high school while doing work on communications towers. Dave is a team leader for the West Michigan Regional Collapse Rescue Team and as a state certified instructor is active in teaching structural collapse rescue, however rope rescue remains his specialty. He has conducted countless classes, not only for fire departments in Michigan, but also for industrial rescuers in a dozen states and Canada. Dave has made several presentations at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis and is also one of their Hands-On Instructors. Dave was involved in the development of programs on firefighter survival, rapid intervention teams, and most recently industrial extrication.

"I think what attracted me to the fire service was the challenge of being called to the worst of situations with the expectation that we will solve the problem. And we do. We have to. There isn't anyone else".

Technical rescue incidents present some of the most challenging of those incidents.

The best memories of his career are intertwined with his worst. The best revolve around the opportunity to not only meet, work, and train with but to also become friends with the best firefighters in the country. These were men who not only understood the mission of the fire service and did it well, but who also exhibited the traits of a leader; humility, compassion and a genuine desire to help others. Tragically several of them were killed on 9/11/01.

"I'll never forget Lt. Peter Martin, FF John Vigiano, his brother, NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano and the nearly 400 others who died because they understood the mission and didn't back away."

Dave's wife of 27 years is Joanne, a special education teacher. They have three children, Mark, Beth and Renee. As time allows they like to ride the bikes trails in Michigan and enjoy taking day hikes, then relaxing around the campfire.

"The thing I really enjoy about being associated with RTR is the opportunity to get outside the cookie cutter mentality that surrounds rope rescue in the fire service. The challenges of doing more with less (both people and equipment), the problem solving required combined with the opportunity to work in some of the most unique venues in the country is awesome. On top of all that, you get to meet and work with some of the best rope rescue people in the country....definitely the cream of the crop!"