Team Members
Tara Arthur
Support
Bio Coming Soon!
Krystal Bean
Support
From Altamont, TN moved to San Antonio in 2019 with her job as a US Army Veterinarian. Joined team as a flanker and recently became a canine handler with Human Remains Detection K9 Remi. Spends free time doing volunteer work.
Certifications – IPWDA Certified Human Remains Detection K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Christina Brewster
Christina Brewster was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She has been around animals her whole life. She spent 4 years volunteering with horses and disabled children using equitherapy as a way of rehabilitation. She is currently enrolled in online classes to become a licensed veterinary technician. Christina and her pitbull Lucas McCain are an IPWDA certified Human Remains Detection K9 team.
Certifications – IPWDA Certified Human Remains K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Paul Bunker
Paul served 22 years in the British Royal Army Veterinary Corps as a canine trainer/instructor. He moved to the USA in 2004 to establish a specialized search dog program for the DoD. Since then he was Senior Technical Adviser to the Army combat tracker dog program and Program Manager for the Office of Naval Research advanced detection dogs project. He is a canine consultant based in San Antonio, Texas.
Certifications – Wilderness Search Specialist
Karen Carr
President
Joined AASAR in April 2015 with her K9 Woodrow. Karen and Woodrow certified as an IPWDA Man-Trailing certified K9 team. She is now working her second bloodhound, Moxie. Moxie recently certified with IPWDA Wilderness Trailing and Global Safety K9 in Urban 1 trailing. Karen just recently trained and certified her third bloodhound, K9 Gibbs.
Certifications – NASAR SARTECH II, IPWDA Certified Trailing K9 Handler, Basic Wilderness Specialist
Susan Cofield
Bio Coming Soon!
Chris Fritz
Christian is a doctoral student at Texas State University in the Criminal Justice department. He started search and rescue with Starbuck 5 years ago in Utah then rescued Saul about 6 months later and began training him as well. Christian was an enlisted aircrew member in the Air Force and contracted in Afghanistan with the US Army before pursuing his education full time. In addition to search and rescue he also trains and handles sea turtle nest detection dogs on Padre Island National Seashore with K9s 4 Conservation.
Certifications – IPWDA Certified Human Remains K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Katlyn Fritz
Bio Coming Soon!
Mat Garber
Mat lived in Michigan until he joined the military after high school. He spent the next 26 years in the military while completing degrees from Ferris State University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Michigan. He joined the team as a flanker in 2017 after he realized the integral niche it filled for our community.
Certifications – Wilderness Search Specialist
Jay Garcia
Originally from France, Jay spent six years active duty in the US Air Force and now works in the IT field. He joined the team in 2018 as a flanker and technologist. His interests include photography, camping, traveling, coffee and cooking.
Certifications – Wilderness Search Specialist
Cassie Gemes
Bio coming soon!
James Gemes
Bio Coming Soon!
Chris Guerrero
Bio Coming Soon!
Jennifer Holguin
Secretary and Assistant Operations Chief
Jennifer was born in San Antonio but raised around the world as a military brat. She has lived in San Antonio since 1991 and joined Alamo Area SAR in 2015. She has been a government contractor for 16 years and works as a database administrator at the Air Force Civil Engineering Center at Lackland AFB. Jennifer and her canines Allie and Storm are a certified Human Remains Detection K9 team.
Certifications – NASAR SARTECH II, Basic Wilderness Search Specialist, IPWDA Certified Human Remains K9 Handler
John Kingkade
Raised in San Diego, Retired from the US Army as Military Police Canine Handler after 24 years of service and work as a canine training instructor for a federal government agency for the past 15 years.
Shiloh Korom
New Member Coordinator
Shiloh was born and raised in Redwood City, California. She moved to San Antonio in 2016; where she started a business and adopted her Australian Cattle Dog mix, Mowgli. Having always been interested in Search & Rescue, and looking for a way to volunteer in her new community, she jumped at the opportunity to visit Alamo Area SAR when a friend invited her to watch a training. Shiloh and her K9 Mowgli are a certified team in air scent/live find.
Certifications – IPWDA Certified Wilderness Live Area K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Orlando Nunez
Operations Chief
Orlando was born in Corpus Christi, Texas into a military family. He began his military career in June 1994 joining the United States Army Military Police Corps. During his ten years in the Army, Orlando, was a canine handler at Fort Riley, Kansas as well as a canine trainer and instructor at the Department of Defense’s Military Working Dog Training Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. In 2004, he was honorably discharged from the Army and accepted a civilian canine instructor position with the Department of Defense as an instructor in the Specialized Search Dog (SSD). He joined Alamo Area SAR in 2010 and is the head canine trainer. Orlando co-handles K9 Storm, a certified Human Remains Detection canine.
Certifications – NASAR SARTECH III, Wilderness Search Specialist, IPWDA Certified Human Remains K9 Handler
Karen Prendergast
Vice President
Karen was born and raised in Kentucky. After high school, she joined the Air Force as a communications analyst. Karen settled in Texas after her discharge and is a Registered Nurse employed with the Texas Board of Nursing. Her strong desire to give back to the community coupled with her love of dogs led her to join the team as a flanker.
Juanita Ramirez
Support
Juanita has been a nurse for 20+years working with medically fragile, disabled and handicapped children. Hobbies-Solitude, hiking, nature, working out and dog training.
Malinda Red Cloud
Began attending AASAR training in July 2021. Started training with her German Shepherd CHIEF, in November. Hopes to achieve a certification in Wilderness Trailing and become proficient in Flanker skills.
James Saunders
Support
In 2019, James joined AASAR after relocating to San Antonio. With his interest in search and rescue and his previous military training, James became a flanker to assist handlers and their dogs in search missions. Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, James joined the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and later enlisted in the Air Force which brought him to the area. James spends free time rock climbing, hiking, and exploring the outdoors of Texas with his wife, daughter, and their dog. He is looking forward to the opportunity to work with AASAR to benefit the local community and improve his search and rescue skills.
Certifications – Wilderness Search Specialist
Jennifer Statter
Bio Coming Soon!
Heather Stieler
Treasurer
Heather calls the Texas Hill Country home but was raised all over the US. She currently works from home as a Software Specialist. Heather became interested in SAR as a way to serve her community in a fun and exciting way that also included her Malinois’ Ren and Misha. Heather and K9 Ren are a certified live area/air scent search team. Heather and K9 Misha are also a certified human remains detection team.
Certifications – NASAR SAR Tech III, IPWDA Certified Wilderness Live Area and Human Remains Detection K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Kevin Stone
Born in Darmstadt, Germany to a military family, Kevin grew up overseas. In Germany he became a technical rescue fire fighter in 2005, and spent much of his free time working as a climbing instructor and ski guide. During college, while attending Kent State University in Ohio, he volunteered as a ski patroller and completed outdoor emergency care as well as emergency medical technician courses. He also worked as a medical responder and guide at youth camps in the Alps and northern Michigan. Kevin joined the team in 2019. He and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Valentine, are a certified team in air scent live find.
Certifications – AMPWDA Certified Wilderness Live Area K9 Handler, Wilderness Search Specialist
Sarah Stone
Sarah was born in Texas City, TX. but moved around the world until she attended Texas Tech University. She is married with two children and four grandchildren. Her last job was director of the Pregnancy Care Center. She is retired and decided to join Alamo Area SAR during June 2015. Sarah and her Belgian Malinois Vanda are a human remains detection K9 team.
Certifications – NASAR SARTECH II, Wilderness Search Specialist, IPWDA Certified Human Remains Detection K9 Handler
Sam Wade
Samantha Wade joined our team in 2021. She moved to Texas in 2016 from Lake Tahoe CA. Samantha is a realtor with KW Heritage and loves helping people find their forever home. She has two young daughters who love helping her with training her pup Apollo and Athena. Samantha is a certified human remains detection handler with both K9 Apollo and K9 Athena.
Certifications – Wilderness Search Specialist, IPWDA Certified Human Remains Detection K9 Handler
Lee Wingert
Born and raised in San Antonio. Served seven years in the US Navy aboard two different aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. Graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Career in senior management positions in major corporations in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Safety and Security positions. SPHR-Emeritus and SHRM-SCP certifications from the Society of Human Resource Management and the HR Accreditation Institute. Football Official for 46 years, working the Referee position. Previously served as the CERT Program Manager for San Antonio. Currently a Commissioner on the Municipal Civil Service Commission for the City of San Antonio, hearing cases of discipline and discharge of city employees. Married with three grown children and one grandchild. Joined Alamo Area SAR in 2013 to continue serving the emergency management community.
Certifications – Incident Support Specialist, Basic Wilderness Search Specialist, NASAR SARTECH III, FCC Licensed Radio Operator, CERT Master Instructor