I spent my early years in structural firefighting on truck companies. I became a State Fire Training instructor — Fire Control 3 and ventilation — and taught all over the western United States.

I promoted to Fire Captain and ran inmate hand crews for four years. Then Training Captain, then Training Battalion Chief. After a couple of years, I transferred to a field battalion. I also qualified as a helitack captain. Finally, I promoted to Assistant Chief (Division Chief) and served as the Administrative Officer.

Then a back injury forced me into medical retirement. On medical leave, I lost my purpose and my identity. I was distant and depressed, living with complex PTSD.

In my healing, I realized something: a fireman was just what I used to be. It’s not who I am now. I’m proud of my service — but I needed a new purpose. That’s where was born.

The Hive — is more than a brand. It’s a hive — a community of like-minded folks who’ve struggled to find a new purpose after the uniform comes off. A place to talk about your time in — what you’d tell yourself back then, and how to prepare — at the start, in the middle, and at the end — whether it was a four-year stint or a full career.

And it’s for the Wanna Bees, too — the future of our craft. The ones coming up behind us. What can we teach them? How do we help them find their purpose, before and after?

Once you hang up your gear, the brotherhood stays with you for life. Welcome to the hive.