Board of Directors

L. Stephen Evers​, P.E. – President

Steve graduated from Virginia Tech in 1987 with a degree in electrical engineering. After college, he worked at AT&T and spin-off Lucent Technologies for 15 years. Later, he worked at SimplexGrinnell, CTSI, Red Hawk, Virginia Sprinkler and Vivint. Steve is now the owner of EES Group Engineering providing design, engineering and consulting services for electrical and fire protection system. Also, he is one of the principals of Complete Electrical Academy providing training for the electronic security industry. Steve is a licensed professional engineer in the electrical and fire protection engineering disciplines and master electrician in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Also, Steve is certified by NICET as a Level IV in Fire Alarm Systems. Steve has three grown children. In his free time, he volunteers at Centreville United Methodist Church, travels and likes exploring new places. 

EES Group, LLC
5746 Union Mill Road, Suite 551
Clifton, VA 20124 steve@eesgroupengineering.com

Erik Hutson – Vice President

Frank Hauf, PE– Secretary

Frank is the managing member of Hauf Consulting & Construction Management, LLC, a small family-owned business located in Maryland. 
Frank has his Professional Engineer licenses in: MD, DC, VA, and PA. 
He obtained his Fire Protection Engineering Bachelor of Science Degree in 1992 from College Park, MD.  His work spans over 3 decades:

• from Federal employment to private sector,
• from roles as: designer, reviewer, Authority Having Jurisdiction, consultant, inspector, Fire Safety Evaluation System preparation, Categorical Waiver requests, Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE), emergency preparedness evacuation planning,
• working on a full range of building, life safety code and fire protection requirements,
• passive and active fire protection elements and systems,
• life safety planning, fire ratings, fire alarm, mass notification, smoke control, sprinkler, and special suppression

He previously served multiple terms on the MD-DC-VA AFAA Board of Directors in different roles: Secretary, Vice President, Membership Chair.

Frank is married with 2 daughters and lives in Kingsville, Maryland.

Tommy Newcomb – Treasurer

 I have been in the fire alarm and electrical industry for 20 years. As a son to an Electrical Contractor, Thomas began installing Electrical and Fire Alarm Systems, in 1999. While working as an Apprentice Electrician Thomas obtained a Journeyman Electrical License, in 2004. Following that, Thomas obtained a job laying out Fire Alarm Systems while pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree, in 2006. In May of 2007, Thomas graduated from Capitol College with a Bachelors of Science Degree in the field of Electrical Engineering. Thomas established TAN Fire Alarms in 2010 and has steadily grown the company, while assisting electrical contractors and end-users with their fire alarm needs. Currently a NICET Level IV certified Fire Alarm Systems Engineering Technician, Thomas is looking to give back to a fire alarm industry and help with the local organization. 

Thanks, Tommy Newcomb Office: (410) 565-6569 | Cell: (240) 304-9735 | Fax: (866) 830-2180 5233 Kalmia Drive | Dayton, MD 21036

Dan Bennett – Membership Director

Senior Sales Executive, Siemens Smart Infrastructure

Taylor Smith – Outreach & Social Media

Steve Merrill – Event Coordinator

Steve is a 2012 graduate of Salisbury University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Communications and Marketing Management. He currently holds a certification for NICET III in Fire Alarm Systems. Steve has been involved in the fire protection industry for nearly 10 years and has been an active member of the AFAA since 2017. He is the Operations Manager for the NCR Division of Kinetix Fire & Life Safety, which provides design, installation, inspections, testing, service, and sales of fire alarm,  fire sprinkler, fire extinguishers, fire/smoke dampers, clean agent and kitchen suppression systems.

Steve began his fire protection career as an Accounts Specialist at Kinetix in 2013. From there he worked his way up through the ranks as a Project Manager and Sales Specialist for large campus Government and Military ITM contracts, as well as tenant fit outs and new system installations. He has been the Operations Manager since 2019 and oversees all project managers, field supervisors, and all field technicians while managing sales and the overall performance of the NCR Division. Steve is married with a son and a daughter and lives in Joppa, Maryland.

Aaron Smith – Director of AHJ Communications

Aaron has over 20 years in the fire service working as a volunteer and career firefighter in West Virginia and Ohio before coming to Maryland to work in fire prevention and code enforcement. He has served as a fire inspector, plans examiner and as the Fire Marshal for the City of Rockville. He currently works for Montgomery County Maryland as a Fire Marshal/Plans Examiner in addition to coordinating training on their electronic plan review and submission programs. He also serves on the Maryland State Fire Code Update Committee and the Maryland State Fire Marshal Subcommittee working as part of the carbon monoxide alarm task force and the legislative affairs work group.

He is an NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist and hold NICET certificates in fire alarm as well. Aaron also works as an educator in emergency management owning a consulting business based in Ohio which reviews emergency operations plans, designs and conducts hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction exercises for first responders and the military. He lives in Washington, DC and is an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Fire Marshal/Sr. Permitting Svcs. Specialist
255 Rockville Pike 2^nd Fl.
Rockville, MD
240.994.0335- Mobile
Email: Aaron.Smith@montgomerycountymd.gov