MCAS crash chief named best Marine firefighter

A gunnery sergeant from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma who is also the instructor at Arizona Western College's Public Safety Institute is the Marine Corps Fire Officer of the Year.

Gunnery Sgt. Freddy W. King, assigned to Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Department at MCAS, was chosen for the honor from all the U.S. Marine Corps firefighting departments.

"I haven't been presented the award yet, I've just been told I have won it," King said Monday.

The selection took place in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

King, who is a crash chief, said he will receive the award next month at the 2008 Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Conference in Denver, Colo.

On winning the award, King said, "It is a big deal to me. It means the work I have done has been recognized."

King said his win also reflects that the Marine Corps is progressing in the firefighting field, with military firefighters being recognized not just on base but out in the community as highly trained and professional.

As far as he knows, King may be the second Marine firefighter from Yuma to ever win the prestigious award. In September, he will compete against the top fire officers of the other armed services for the Department of Defense Fire Officer of the Year.

King has served in the Marine Corps for the past 16 years and participated in numerous deployments such as Haiti, Cuba and Kosovo.

Specializing in aircraft rescue and firefighting, King has also been the instructor at AWC's Public Safety Institute and has been teaching fire science and emergency medical services (EMS) for AWC for the past two years.

"Arizona Western College is incredibly fortunate to have quality faculty across the breadth of programs at the college. Professor King is an excellent example the quality," said Dr. Joann Linville, vice president of learning services. "Professor King has been teaching fire science and EMS for AWC for the past two years and is recognized by his colleagues and students for his expertise. We are so pleased that he has been recognized with this prestigious award."

King added that teaching future fighters gives him the opportunity to pass on the knowledge he has learned from all his years as a firefighter.

"It's really nice to help start someone out on a career path that you have been on for many years. I'm not just passing on my knowledge, but also my life experiences."

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James Gilbert can be reached at
jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.