Russell “Rusty” Brannon is a 26-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves in the Operations Division and oversees daily operations for C-Shift at the Cedar Hill, TX, Fire Department. Brannon oversees the department’s promotional process, and is active in the fire department’s training mission and mentor’s members at all ranks of the department. Prior to Cedar Hill Fire Department, he began his career as a firefighter with the Mt. Pleasant, TX, Fire Department. He is a certified paramedic who holds an associate degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University and numerous certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, including Fire Officer I & II, Fire Investigator and Level II Fire Instructor, and is a certified Blue Card Command instructor. He started his career by attending the Kilgore Fire Academy. After being told they cannot have children, he and his wife, Laura, have a son, Noah, who is the miracle that God gave them to show off and tell everyone about.