Byron Smith is the new operations program manager for the National Park Service (NPS) Branch of Structural Fire. This will be Byron’s first opportunity to serve with the National Park Service, formerly serving as the assistant chief for operations at Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia.
Byron has had a diverse firefighting career serving in a wide array of departments including, volunteer, municipal, US Army, US Air Force, and US Marine Corps. Byron began learning the trade in 1993 while enlisted as active-duty military in the US Navy on submarines. He continued learning and honing his structural firefighting skills on a municipal fire department in Kentucky before beginning his government service for the US Army at Fort Knox Fire Department in 2007. From there, Byron took his skills to Alaska in 2015 and served both the Army and the Air Force in various roles including firefighter, Captain, Training Officer and Assistant Fire Chief.
Byron has extensive knowledge of department operations and training. Structural fire branch chief Shane Crutcher stated, “we are excited to add Byron to the structural fire team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program and I look forward to him using that experience to support our park and regional programs’ operational needs." He has taught numerous firefighter certification courses and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) courses over the last 8 years and is an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)/Pro Board-certified Fire Officer III, Fire Service Instructor III, and Fire Inspector II, amongst many other firefighter accredited certifications.
Byron and his wife Teaque live in Albany, Georgia with their two daughters and have a grown son with twin daughters. They enjoy camping, kayaking and exploring the beauty of our country.
Tags: nps employees new employees structural fire structural fire program dfam
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service