He retired at the rank of major from the Oklahoma City Fire Department in 2012 following 24 years of service. He began his academic career serving as an adjunct instructor for UCO’s Industrial Safety Program in 2008. He earned a doctorate from Oklahoma State University in fall 2015. His dissertation was titled “Factors Influencing College Student Preparedness for Severe Weather.” He holds the International Association of Emergency Managers’ Certified Emergency Manager certification. Findley spent three years at Oklahoma Christian University as the director of Academic Excellence in Athletics prior to joining the UCO faculty.