About

I started my volunteer career in 1973 in Wenatchee Washington. I was asked by a local Chief while walking through the county fair if I had ever thought about being a volunteer firefighter. I joined Chelan County Fire District 1and served until 1991 at the rank of Lieutenant. I moved across the river and joined Douglas County Fire District #2. I was promoted to Lieutenant and Division Chief. I was asked to be Division Chief for both departments. Then in 2022, those 2 departments merged into the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department and I am currently the Division Chief. I was elected as a board member of the Washington State Fire Fighters’ Association in 2002. I have served as president for 3 of my years on the board. Currently I am1 of the 2 Directors to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) representing the volunteers of Washington State on the national level and chaired the Wildland Committee for the NVFC for 10 years. I also helped start and moderated the National Benefits Summit.

My life changed in a hurry when I was diagnosed with leukemia on March 21^st 2022. I will retire from the fire service at the end of this year with 50 years of volunteer service to my community.