As long as he can remember, as a child, J. D. aspired to become a firefighter. In April of 1984, the dream became a reality. J. D. became a junior member of the fire department in his home town of War, West Virginia. There, J. D. rose through the ranks of junior firefighter, firefighter, sergeant, and captain before leaving his hometown to pursue a career in law enforcement. In 1989, J. D. graduated the West Virginia State Police Academy. While moving to Mercer County, WV, J. D. continued his work in the fire service, joining the Green Valley-Glenwood V.F.D where he attained the rank of Lieutenant. During this time, J. D. worked part time for a fire equipment company as a mechanic and truck driver. This job afforded J. D. with the opportunity to travel which brought him to Ocean City, Maryland in 1993. There, J. D. made many friends in the Ocean City Fire Company, and in 1997 he made the move to Ocean City. J. D. became a live in firefighter at Station 3 which serves the mid-town section of Ocean City. In 1999, J. D. was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant assigned to Tower-Ladder 5. Even though moving from the area in 1990, J. D. has continued as member of his home town fire department, in War, West Virginia. Now a life member of War V.F.D., where J. D. holds the position of Deputy Chief which involves coordination of training, equipment and apparatus testing/maintanance and equipment purchasing. In 2000, J. D. moved from station 3 to pursue his marriage to Jenean Spence which was held in the bucket of Tower 6, 105 feet in the air at the Ocean City Inlet. Currently J. D. is assigned as a Lieutenant in the South Battalion, and is employed by the Berlin Police Department as a patrol sergeant. In his spare time, J. D. can usually be found repairing and re-panting leather helmets for the brothers in the fire service. JD was the 1999 recipient of the "Ralph R. Dennis" Firefighter of the Year Award and has been decorated for numerous rescues throughout his service to the public to include being awarded the Medal of Valor for a surf rescue in the wake of an approaching hurricane off the coast of Ocean City in September of 1999.