September 16th 2025

  Mike will share real life experiences as Unit Leader of Marin Search and Rescue and prepare you if you get lost in the woods.

Through his diverse professional experience in emergency services, Michael has significant expertise in a broad spectrum of emergency management areas, including major fire incidents, hazardous materials operations, and large scale protracted search and rescue missions. 
 
Michael St. John joined the Marin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team in 1979 and has served as Unit Leader since 1989. The Marin County Sheriff’s SAR Unit has 120 members and responded to 64 missions last year throughout California. Michael played an integral role in leading the team to become a certified Mountain Rescue Team.
 
Michael’s Fire Service career started in 1985 as a Seasonal Firefighter and retired as a Battalion Chief with the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. He currently serves in the Planning Section of the North Bay Incident Management Team. 
 
Michael has played an integral role in the development of the abduction search strategy curriculum, which has been published in “Managing Missing Persons in the Urban environment”. He is a nationally recognized instructor in searching for victims of predator abductions and was recognized by the National Association of Search and Rescue in 2003 with the “State” award for his work. Michael teaches courses in abduction search operations and Advanced Search Management for the California State OES Law Enforcement Branch.