Sonny Cudd began working in the fire service in 1984 as a volunteer firefighter.  He was soon hired as a paid professional firefighter. Sonny worked for several departments, gaining experience in different disciplines of the fire service, including municipal, industrial, wildland, and aircraft rescue firefighting.  All of this prepared him for later employment at LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute.

Sonny was hired by FETI in 1997 as an instructor in the industrial program.  He also began to revitalize the ARFF program as the program manager.  Mr. Cudd also briefly worked as the municipal center-based manager. After a few years, Sonny began working with a very special group of instructors to create the recruit academy crew. Following a brief break, Sonny returned to LSU FETI as a regional instructor.  He currently provides training in the central section of Louisiana.