On Thursday, February 9, 2023, Arizona Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Volunteers Larry Jacobs and Mike Leonard went to the Northern Arizona Fire District located at 2600 E. Northern Avenue in Kingman, Arizona 86409, where we presented a ESGR Patriot Award and ESGR Statement of Support (SOS) to Fire Chief Dennis Hoke. The ESGR Patriot Award was presented to Chief Hoke as the result of a nomination made by one of his employees, Navy Reserve PO2 Derek Slater assigned to the NMCB18 in Las Vegas, NV. PO2 Slater is a firefighter assigned to Northern Arizona Fire District and indicated that Chief Hoke took him on as a probationary employee to a smaller department with less resources knowing he would require time off to complete his military obligations. He indicated that Chief Hoke was willing to take on the challenge of working around his military obligations to give him the time off to meet his military training requirements. During the presentation it was learned that Chief Hoke worked for the Department of Defense in the Fire Protection Service for many years at military installations and was very supportive of our military service members. We also presented Chief Hoke with an ESGR Statement of Support, which he will proudly display at the Northern Arizona Fire District Administrative Offices. Because of Chief Hoke’s support to our National Guard and Reserve Component members, he was asked if he would like to attend our next AZ ESGR Boss-Lift and he related that he had already been on these flights in the past as a DOD employee and quickly offered it to his second in command, Assistant Chief Don Dallman. This is just another example of Chief Hoke’s supervision style to empower others under his management to expand their horizon to experience other opportunities. We salute Fire Chief Dennis Hoke and express our sincere thanks for his support of our reserve military forces. The AZ Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve recognizes the accomplishments of Northern Arizona Fire District and thanks them for their continued support of the National Guard and Reserve Component members.

Larry Jacobs

Have a Great Day!

“We all Serve”

Arizona Office for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Northern Arizona Section Chair

Larry T. Jacobs