Instructors

John Fields

John Fields is the Safety Manager for OATS Transit in Columbia, MO. He is a former Air Force Security Police veteran and served 11 years in the Air Force. For six of those eleven years, John was an instructor and trained Air Force Security Policemen in weapons training, Combat/SWAT tactics and dealing with terrorist threats against air bases. John is a retired Sheriff’s Deputy and worked thirteen years with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office where he was a Field Training Officer, a D.A.R.E. Instructor and a certified Accident Reconstructionist. He spent time as a Sergeant in the Security Department with the University of Missouri Hospital where he trained staff in Workplace Violence and also taught safety training to nurses. John was a Senior Loss Prevention Manager with the JC Penney Company and the Senior Security Director for both the Columbia and Capital Malls. 

John instructs Dealing with Difficult Passengers Training and Active Shooter Prevention and Response Training for MO-RTAP.  

John Rice

John Rice has a long history of instructing classes for the Missouri RTAP program. In fact, he began his career with MoDOT at the inception of the National RTAP program in 1988. He was employed as a driver trainer and vehicle procurement specialist for transit agencies throughout the state.

Prior to MoDOT, Rice, a graduate of Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Psychology, taught social studies from 1978-1982 in the public school system at the high school and junior high level. From 1982-1988, he worked as a school bus transportation supervisor until joining MoDOT. Upon his retirement in 2012, he became a contract instructor for Missouri RTAP at Missouri University of Science and Technology for whom he continues instructing transit driver training throughout Missouri.