Larry Akers
Director
Olympic College Readiness Response Institute
Larry Akers has been involved with emergency response for the past 35 years. He began his career in 1970 when he enlisted into the U.S. Navy. During his years in the Navy he was assigned to fire fighting, damage control and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) defense duties. He spent several tours at sea on different classes of naval vessels. His primary duties included responsibility for all fire fighting, damage control and CBR training, systems, equipment and response. He was also assigned instructor duties at Firefighting School San Diego; Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Fleet Training Center, Treasure Island, California; and Mine Group 1, Seattle, Washington. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1992 at the rank of Master Chief Damage Controlman (E-9).
In 1993 Larry went to work for the Washington State Fire Protection Bureau. He began as a part- time firefighting instructing at the Washington State Fire Training Academy.He progressed to full- time lead instructor for private industry and military in 1995. In this role he instructed military, industrial fire brigades and marine industry students in all aspects of flammable liquid, LPG, and shipboard and structural firefighting techniques and equipment. He was assigned as a Deputy State Fire Marshal in 1997. In this capacity, he worked with local fire departments conducting fire and life safety inspections at local hospitals and nursing homes. He also conducted fire investigations when necessary. He returned to the State Academy in 1998 and remained there until 1999.
In 2000 Larry started his own fire safety training and consulting business. He conducted training for several large west coast and Alaskan companies. It was during this time he was hired by Olympic College to get college programs at the Kitsap County Emergency Services Readiness Center up and running. His position changed from consultant to full-time program coordinator in 2002. He is responsible for day-to-day operations, marketing, and certifications. He was promoted to the position of Director of the Readiness Response Institute in January 2005.
Larry lives in Port Orchard, Washington with his wife Christa.