Michael J. Tillman – Founder, Lead Instructor & Industry Authority

Michael J. Tillman is the Founder and Lead Instructor of AMDECON and is widely recognized as a long-standing authority in the fields of crime scene cleanup, biohazard response, and regulatory safety training. His career spans decades and includes rare credentials, industry firsts, and formal instruction at the highest levels of occupational safety and health.

Industry Authority & Professional Experience

Michael’s work in this field dates back to a time when formal standards, safety education, and regulatory oversight were limited or nonexistent. Through instruction, course development, and direct engagement with regulatory frameworks, he has played a foundational role in shaping how safety and compliance are approached within the industry today.

In the year 2000, Michael became the first OSHA-Authorized Instructor specializing in the field of crime scene cleanup, helping establish structured safety education standards in an emerging and high-risk profession.

Michael J. Tillman, founder of AMDECON and pioneer in crime scene cleanup training

Since founding AMDECON in 1999, Mr. Tillman has performed thousands of hours of real-world crime scene, trauma scene, meth lab, and hoarding cleanup work across the United States.

Advanced Safety & Regulatory Credentials

To the best of Michael’s knowledge, he is the only individual in the industry to hold the designation of Certified Safety and Health Official. This credential was earned through one of fewer than 29 OSHA Educational Centers nationwide and represents an exceptional level of expertise in occupational safety, health, and regulatory compliance.

These credentials reflect not only formal education, but also a deep, working understanding of OSHA standards and how they apply in real-world, high-risk environments.

Specialized Anti-Terrorism & WMD Training

As part of his Certified Anti-Terrorism (Weapons of Mass Destruction) training, Michael received direct instruction from Ken Alibek, former head of the Soviet Union’s bioweapons program and a globally recognized authority on biological threats and biodefense.

This rare training background informs AMDECON’s approach to contamination control, hazard assessment, and safety-first operational protocols in extreme and sensitive situations.

Instructional Background & Industry Education

In the past, AMDECON operated as an IICRC Approved School, and Michael served as an IICRC Approved Instructor before retiring from those designations. During that period, he provided formal instruction in accordance with IICRC standards and contributed to professional education within the industry.

Michael was a member of the Consensus Body for the 2017 ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup. This standard served as the catalyst for the IICRC Trauma and Crime Scene Technician (TCST) certification, which established formalized industry criteria for trauma and crime scene cleanup.

While no longer holding those active designations, this instructional and standards-development experience continues to influence AMDECON’s emphasis on proper procedures, documentation, and best practices.

Trust, Ethics & Consumer Protection

Among companies operating in this field, AMDECON is the only organization accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This accreditation reflects a long-standing commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, and consumer trust in an industry where accountability is critical.

Michael’s leadership has consistently emphasized professionalism, verifiable credentials, and compliance with recognized standards.

Leadership, Education & Ongoing Commitment

As Founder and Lead Instructor, Michael continues to oversee course development, instructional standards, and compliance alignment for AMDECON. His focus remains on delivering education grounded in real-world experience, regulatory accuracy, and safety-driven decision-making.

Collectively, Michael J. Tillman’s credentials demonstrate a level of experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness that is uncommon in this industry—providing students, professionals, and organizations with confidence in both the training they receive and the standards behind it.

Industry Leadership and Career History

1999 – Michael J. Tillman founded AMDECON as one of the first professional crime scene cleanup companies in the United States, providing crime and trauma scene, meth lab, and hoarding cleanup services nationwide.

2004 – After years of in-field experience handling suicides, homicides, unattended deaths, and industrial accidents, Mr. Tillman opened the world’s first dedicated Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination (CTS Decon) training center. He also created and taught the industry’s first 40-hour, 5-day Decontamination Specialist Training Course in Irving, Texas.

This facility was the first to use full-scale crime and trauma scene mock-up rooms containing furniture, personal belongings, flooring, ceiling finishes, artwork, computers, and real biological materials to recreate true-to-life cleanup scenarios. These methods later became the industry standard.

Pioneering Online Cleanup Training

2007 – Recognizing the potential of online education, Mr. Tillman closed the physical training center and launched AMDECON’s worldwide distance learning programs. This transition saved students thousands of dollars while making professional cleanup training accessible globally.

To date, Mr. Tillman has trained thousands of students in more than 28 countries. Many have gone on to form their own companies and now provide critical cleanup services to traumatized families in their communities.

Professional Certifications and Credentials

In addition to decades of field experience, Mr. Tillman earned the designation of Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO) through the OSHA Training Institute Southwest Education Center (OTISEC), a member of The Texas A&M University System. This certification required a five-year commitment to complete.

Selected Training and Certifications

  • Certified Safety & Health Official (OSHA Training Institute)
  • OSHA 501 Outreach Trainer
  • OSHA 500, 501, and 510
  • OSHA Hazardous Materials & Respiratory Protection
  • OSHA Confined Space, Electrical, and Machine Guarding
  • 40-Hour HAZWOPER
  • Certified Drug Lab Decontamination Worker & Supervisor (State of Washington)
  • Certified Asbestos Abatement Worker & Supervisor (Ontario, Canada)
  • Marijuana Grow Operations Remediation Supervisor
  • Certified Anti-Terrorism (Weapons of Mass Destruction)
  • IICRC Certifications including FSRT, OCT, HST, and MSR

National and International Media Coverage

Michael J. Tillman and AMDECON have been featured nationally and internationally as recognized experts in crime scene cleanup, hoarding remediation, meth lab decontamination, and safety-related industries. This coverage reflects decades of real-world experience, industry leadership, and professional training expertise.

  • A&E TV
  • Ashland City Times
  • Associated Press
  • Brutus Magazine (Japan)
  • Cleaning and Restoration Trade Journal
  • CNN
  • Dallas Observer
  • HowStuffWorks.com
  • ICS Cleaning Specialist
  • Interviu Magazine (Spain)
  • KansasCity.com
  • Maryland Daily Record
  • Mercury News
  • Newsweek
  • NorthJersey.com
  • RTL TV Network (Germany)
  • Star Telegram
  • Tampa Business News
  • Telemundo
  • the Dallas Morning News
  • The Fugitive Post
  • The Mercury
  • The Oxford Press
  • The Tennessean

Nonprofit Leadership

In April 2008, Mr. Tillman became the Executive Director of the Suicide Aftercare Association, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.