Seymour Johnson firefighter named best in command Published June 24, 2009 By Maj. Shannon Mann Public Affairs Office SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Well-groomed, clean-cut and a good physique. Donald Knuth certainly fits the stereotypical firefighter persona. However he is anything but typical, away from his civilian job as the battalion commander for the City of Sanford Fire Department, Donald Knuth is known as Senior Master Sgt. Donald Knuth; and was recently selected as Air Force Reserve Command's Military Fire Officer of the Year for 2008. The Sanford resident balances his civilian firefighting career with his Air Force Reserve firefighting duties and has demonstrated his skills, knowledge, leadership and passion for the job in everything he does. Sergeant Knuth's award package reads like a seasoned veteran, and it should with more than 25 years of military service and 17 years of fire service. In 2008, he deployed to Iraq where he led a team of 59 Army and Air Force firefighters. While crucially undermanned, he still managed to conduct more than 200 critical inspections while stationed at Balad Air Base. He also looked after the civilian populace, coordinating the donation of more than 2000 clothing items for Iraqi children. His efforts to impact the community didn't just start in Iraq. Sergeant Knuth has shaved his head to raise money for cancer research, volunteers with his local VFW post and has helped his local parent-teacher organization raise more than $25,000 for school and gym supplies. It is clear upon talking to him that he does it for love of the job and love of the community, not for any elevated status. "I was surprised," Sergeant Knuth said upon hearing that he'd won. "It is humbling to be nominated at that level, and then to receive it." "Sergeant Knuth is an outstanding manager and a proactive leader who constantly finds new and innovative ways to complete our portion of the Air Force mission," said Chief Master Sgt. Douglass Willis, 916th Air Refueling Wing fire chief. "He has always been assigned the most difficult tasks and has never failed to complete a single one. This award recognizes him for his dedication to duty and exemplary job performance." Sergeant Knuth and Chief Willis will attend the Fire Rescue International Conference in late August in Dallas where he will receive his command award in front of hundreds of his peers and find out the results of the Department of Defense level award, which he is now eligible to win. "None of this is possible without a good team," said Sergeant Knuth. "And by far, the 916th team is the best in the Reserve."