A Shift
A Shift Operations Personnel
Kim Jester
Fire Captain
Hometown: Denver, CO
Fire Captain C. Kim Jester has served in the fire service since 1977. He started his career as a volunteer Firefighter with the DeSabla Volunteer Fire department, then got a job in the Paradise Fire Department as a Reserve Firefighter. During this time, he achieved an AA degree from Butte College in Fire Science.
In August of 1983 Kim was hired as a Firefighter by the University of California, Davis – Fire Department. He was promoted to the position of Fire Specialist II in 1987 and Fire Captain/Assistant Fire Marshal in 1990, with primary responsibility as a plans and field inspector. In 1991, he accepted a lateral position as a line captain with primary responsibility as an emergency response captain.
Captain Jester has programmatic responsibility for the UC Davis Fire/Rescue Response program.
Nathaniel Hartinger
Fire Captain
Hometown: Orinda, CA
Nate grew up in the East San Francisco Bay area and graduated from Miramonte High School in 1995. He initially joined the fire service in 1999 as a UC Davis student resident firefighter. After graduating from UC Davis the following year with bachelor degrees in both Sociology and Communication, he worked at honing his medical skills as an EMT with a Solano County ambulance company.
Returning to work for his alma mater, he was hired as a career firefighter at UCDFD in 2001 and promoted to Engineer in 2004 and Captain in 2005. Nate has taught a variety of subjects over his career both within the department, at the Woodland fire academy and recently with the School of Veterinary Medicine. He currently lives in Davis with his wife and two children.
David Dean
Fire Engineer
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Fire Engineer Dean started his career in the fire service in 1987. He has held the position of Firefighter and Fire Engineer as both a career firefighter and as a volunteer firefighter.
David graduated from Burlingame High School in 1986. Realizing school was not his passion, his father advised him to “get a real job”. David went into the construction field for a year. That was long enough to discover that swinging a hammer was not in his future. Although, he learned many valuable skills in construction, he knew there was a more exciting career choice to be found.
Shasta College in Redding was the next stop. Following a path of many uncles and cousins, David sought a career in the fire service. David went back to school with a different outlook on education. Shasta College had a fire program on campus where he volunteered as a firefighter while earning a degree in Fire Technology. David also volunteered for the Jones Valley Fire Department while he was in the Redding area.
In September of 1990 David was hired by the UCDavis Fire Dept. He has been there ever since, spending his first 14 years as a Firefighter. In 2004 he was promoted to Engineer. Currently, David is the Engineer of Truck 34, the 100’ aerial ladder.
John Hodge
Fire Engineer
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Fire Engineer Hodge began his working career back in 1980, enlisting into the United States Air Force (USAF). Upon graduating from basic training, John attended the USAF Jet Engine Technical School at Chanute AFB, IL. While stationed at Beale AFB, John attended Yuba College and graduated in 1982 earning an AA in Social Sciences. John was then accepted into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp at San Jose State University and was commissioned a 2nd Lt upon graduating with a BA in Political Science in 1984.
John’s first assignment was back to Chanute AFB, where he attended the USAF Aircraft Maintenance Officer’s Course. Upon graduation, John was assigned to the 325th Component Repair Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla. John served in a myriad of capacities from Officer-in -Charge (OIC) of the Propulsion Branch to Assistant OIC of the 2nd Aircraft Generation Squadron. During John’s off duty time, he competed by correspondence the USAF Squadron Officer’s School. In addition, John earned his Private Pilot’s License at the Base Aero Club. With his military commitment nearing its end, John made the decision to become an entrepreneur and began a 16-year career as a Subway Sandwich Franchisee.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the USAF, John returned to Santa Cruz and opened up his first Subway on 41st Ave, Capitola, Ca. During the operational period of John’s first Subway, he obtained his instrument, commercial and instructor flight ratings for both single and multi-engine airplanes. As a flight instructor, John has worked for United Flight, Watsonville, Ca. and the Travis Aero Club, Travis AFB, Ca. After selling his first Subway, John relocated to Vacaville, Ca. From 1993-2004, John leased, constructed and operated 7 more Subway Shops in Solano County.
Shortly after the tragic events of 9/11, John yearned for an opportunity to make a positive difference and proceeded to a higher calling. Serving in the fire service since 2002, John began his third career as a volunteer at the Dixon Fire Department, Dixon, Ca. After earning his Paramedic License in 2005, John was hired by the UC Davis Fire Department. As one of his department collateral duties, Johns provides continuing education for basic life support to department members. In addition, John is the department’s Designated Infection Control Officer. John was promoted to Engineer in 2009. John resides in Vacaville with his wife Noraini of 28 years. They have two adult children, Lisa and Mike.
Kyle Dubs
Firefighter
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Serving in the fire service since 2006, Kyle Dubs began his career as a resident firefighter with UC Davis Fire Department. Kyle spent the summers of 2008, 2009 working for Cal Fire as a seasonal firefighter in Covelo, Mendocino County. Kyle Dubs earned his undergraduate degree in Communication with a minor in History and Psychology from UC Davis in 2010. He also earned his FFI and FFII from the UC Davis Fire Department during his four years as a resident and senior resident firefighter.
Upon graduation he took a job with the Tesoro Oil Refining Company as a refinery operator. During that time he was also a member of their fire brigade. In September of 2010, Kyle returned to UCDFD as a full time firefighter.
Paul Rush
Firefighter
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Firefighter Rush began his working career In the construction industry. Following high school he attended the Carrington polytechnic where he began a 4 year construction apprenticeship program. During this time, he worked for a construction company while attending school.
After completing his construction apprenticeship program in 2000, Paul transitioned from employee to employer and started his first construction company which operated successfully up until 2005. While on vacation in the United States, Paul met his future wife. Happily married, they now live in Santa Rosa along with their one year old daughter. After going through the legal process to become a permanent resident, Paul began his second construction business which operated until he became a full time Firefighter.
Paul always felt the need to do something more meaningful with his life. Growing up without family or friends in the fire service, it took a conversation with a friend who is a San Francisco Firefighter to peak his interest. The combination of the physical and mental aspects of the job while providing public service to those in need was a huge draw.
Paul began his Fire service career as a Firefighter intern with Bodega bay Fire protection district in 2007. He worked through the ranks becoming part-time and then full time by 2010. In 2011, Paul was fortunate and very proud to be hired by the UC Davis Fire Department where he currently serves as a Firefighter.
