Nick started search and rescue with his wife, Kristin Smaltz, in 2009. They joined a team in hopes of working with their dogs, spending time outdoors, and helping to save others. His time hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing made for an easy transition into search and rescue. He has become an instructor and evaluator for various National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) classes and certifications. Nick is currently working his terrier mix named Rocket in Human Remains Detection. As a team they have been twice nationally certified through North American Search Dog Network.  Nick was also one of the founding members of Alpha Search and Recovery and currently acts as the lead instructor for HRD Canines, mantracking, and