UMGC Alumnus Develops AI-Powered Firefighter Training Tool

It's said that necessity is the mother of invention, and for Dan Fernandez '11, that has certainly been true as he has navigated his career. A decade ago, Fernandez left the corporate world for a job that better suited his personality and his goals.

"I hated the office environment," he admits. "It was so stuffy."

A friend encouraged him to apply for a job with the Virginia Beach Fire Department. There, he finally found the fit he was looking for.

"In the fire department, I wasn't tethered to a desk or a cubicle," he explains. "It was fun, let me give back to the community, and allowed me to stay in shape. It was the perfect combination."

This article was posted by the UMGC Alumni Association in July 2026. Read more to learn how firefighter and entrepreneur Dan Fernandez turned a personal study aid into a simulation tool now used by dozens of firefighters.