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Zach Walden
POSITION: Outside Hitter
HEIGHT: 6’4”
PROFESSION: Fire Lieutenant, Paramedic/Firefighter, Hampton Fire & Rescue (Hampton, VA)
HOMETOWN: Norfolk, Virginia

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

  • Active duty United States Coast Guard, USCGC Hamilton San Diego, CA. Counter narcotics, immigration enforcement, rescue and assist. 2006-2009

  • Active duty United States Coast Guard, Training Center Cape May Fire Department Cape May, New Jersey. Structural and maritime firefighting, county HAZMAT team, emergency medical response. 2009-2012.

  • United States Coast Guard Reserves, Port Security Unit 305, Fort Eustis, VA. Maintain a continuous maritime antiterrorism-force protection presence at any port in the world within 96 hour recall. 2012-2016.

  • Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue, Hampton, VA. Fire suppression, fire investigations, water rescues, fire prevention, code enforcement, and hazardous materials mitigation. 2012-present.

Specialties/Certifications: Maritime Emergency Response Team, Peer Fitness Trainer, Ladder Operator, Deckhand

Why is Public Service important to you?

“Public service is not an option for me. I have, since I was a young boy, felt that those who have an ability also have a responsibility. Growing up I saw men and women in the military and knew that I could do what they do. Event after event in my late teens helped drive this thought home. 9/11, Indian Ocean earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, London suicide bomber, friends dying in Iraq and Afghanistan...when each event was on the news there were responders on scene who’s abilities to help I knew I could match. So inevitably, I recognized that I had the responsibility to serve. Public service is my way of life. It’s how I feed my family and feed my soul. There are people out there who need abilities like mine, I have the responsibility to offer them my abilities.”

VOLLEYBALL CAREER:

High School/Juniors

  • Tallwood High School Class of 2003, Beach Boys VBC

Post Collegiate/Professional:

  • All Navy Indoor Volleyball Team 2011

  • All Navy Beach Volleyball Team 2011

  • Team USA All Military Beach Volleyball Team 2011, 5th place Beach Volleyball World Military Games 2011 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • 4th place Men’s Indoor Volleyball World Police and Fire Games 2015 Fairfax, Virginia,

  • #1 rank Coed Beach Volleyball VolleyAmerica 2016, 2017, 2018,

  • 2nd place Men’s Indoor Volleyball World Fire and Police Games 2017 Los Angeles, California.