Having worked with the Bucks County Community College for the past 16 years, Richard Shannon Draper is an experienced fire instructor. Throughout this time, Richard Shannon Draper has conducted hundreds of hours of classes, much of it abroad.

His typical responsibilities in the role include leading accredited classes while also conducting certification exams. These tests, including firefighting and fire safety officer accreditation, among others. Alongside the position, Mr. Draper has served as a fire chief with several cities.

For four years he served in a similar capacity for the city of Vermillion. While there, he oversaw two full-time officers, 30 volunteer firefighters, and 20 on-call emergency medical technicians. As such, Richard Shannon Draper was responsible for ensuring that these employees were well-trained and had the necessary tools for their work.

He has also worked alongside the University of South Dakota and other organizations to improve the communities, and worked with the city council to lead the city’s first fire safety campaign.