Gary Armstrong has served in the fire service since 1985, holding a variety of leadership positions including Operations Chief, Shift Commander, Training Chief, and District Chief.  Before his promotion to Chief Officer, he served as the Technical Rescue Captain at Station 10 and later the Wildland Captain at Station 9.

Throughout his career, he's been an active member of several specialized teams, including the Technical Rescue Team, Dive Rescue Team, Hazardous Materials Team, and Wildland Team. He also volunteered for several years on the Jefferson County Type III Incident Management Team and was certified as a Division Supervisor under NWCG standards. Gary has been deployed as a Task Force Leader on major wildfires in Arizona, Wyoming, and Idaho.

He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in General Business from the University of Northern Colorado, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Most recently, he was recognized as “Responder of the Year” by Jeffcom 911.

The Deputy Chief of Operations is responsible for managing all operational aspects of the fire district; including uniformed personnel and equipment. He also oversees the Training Division, the EMS Division, and the Special Operations Division.