Airports Meet a Fire Fighter, Pilot, & Police Officer Virtually every child growing up has dreams of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or a police officer. Lana’i Airport ARFF Lieutenant Michael Curtis had those same dreams growing up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Michael somehow managed to fulfill all of his childhood dreams.
By: Brian Kamimoto
with the Federal Fire Department at Pearl Harbor. And in 2009, Michael began his ARFF career.
Michael grew up wanting to be a pilot in the military, a firefighter, and a police officer. He comes from a military family. Every male member on both sides of his family served along with a few female members. Michael’s grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and a firefighter and police officer in ensuing years. Michael’s father was a pilot in the military. No one pushed Michael to join the military or civilian professions. His family says he takes after his dad and granddad, so they weren’t surprised of his choices. While Michael was stationed in Hawaii, he met his wife Laura. She’s from Kaneohe and when he got out of active duty, he couldn’t convince her to move to Arkansas. I wonder why? There was all the squirrel you could eat! They’ve been together for 25 years now. In civilian life, Michael is an ARFF Lieutenant stationed on Lanai. His path to becoming a firefighter began in 1999 with the United States Air Force Reserves. In 2002, Michael was employed
Besides his ARFF career, Michael is a Lieutenant Colonel with the Hawai’i Air National Guard. He serves as the Commander, 154th Security Forces Squadron, stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. He is responsible for providing combat ready Security Forces for rapid deployment in support of both the Federal Government and the State of Hawai’i in law enforcement, security, antiterrorism, force protection, and integrated base defense. Lt Col Curtis enlisted in the Navy in February 1993. He graduated from Gunner’s Mate “A” School at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, in February 1994 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor onboard the USS Salvor (ARS-52). Lt. Col. Curtis then enlisted in the Air Force Reserves at Hickam Air Force Base in June 1999. He graduated from the Fire Protection Apprentice Course at San Angelo AFB, Texas in May 2000. After graduating from Wayland Baptist University, Lt Col Curtis attended the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee and was
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