Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams in the U.S. are staffed largely with fulltime firefighters. Those teams are augmented with various civilian specialist volunteers such as dog handlers and engineers. Volunteer engineers receive two weeks training in Rescue Engineering to prepare for the unique challenges of facilitating reasonably safe rescue operations in severely damaged buildings. The art and science of Rescue Engineering have progressed significantly over the past three decades as a result of experience at major events, including the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the Oklahoma Bombing in 1995. Based on his deployment experiences and his role as a Rescue Engineering instructor, the speaker will highlight the role of effective engineering training and support in response to these major USAR events.