Assistant Chief Ron Thurston is the District’s highest ranking volunteer officer. Ron was born and raised in Grand County and with the exception of his military service, has continued to call Grand County home for his family and business. Ron served with the U.S. Army 78th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Germany from 1972 to 1974 as a Field Wireman and was quickly pulled into their ski program. Ron returned to Grand County where he has maintained multiple careers since. Ron began a career as an electrician and received his Master’s License which he still holds today. He began his own contracting company in 1982, which he’s recently retired from, but his son and daughter still run. Ron has been involved with outdoor education his entire life with countless certifications in instructions, skiing and rope rescue. He has several decades in working as a ski instructor and raft guide, including working as an instructor for the US Ski team until 1996. Additionally, he helped develop and maintain Middle Park High School’s River Trip program working generations of Grand County’s youth. Ron began his fire career in 1970 as a volunteer firefighter at Tabernash Fire and served there until 1977, except for his military service years. Ron became a volunteer at Grand Fire in 1988 and was promoted to his first officer position in 1992 as the Rescue Captain and has served in leadership roles and been involved developing firefighters and department management since. In his thirty fifth year, he’s still proud to serve his community as a volunteer Assistant Chief of support services for the department.