Being medically discharged from the Marine Corps certainly felt like one of life's curve balls for our guest, Mike Ward. Still, his calling for public service wouldn't be silenced by that; it'll just remain dormant for a time. Following his father and grandfather's steps, he'd become a Union electrician, which years became a critical piece for developing his career as a first responder.   Meet Mike Ward, New Jersey State Police's brand new Sergeant First Class, former Hazardous Materials Specialist, Task Force Officer at the ATF, and Electrical Aspects of Fire Investigation Instructor at the National Fire Academy.  In this episode, Mike shares his journey from the Army to the trades and then back to public service. We talk about his experiences as a first responder, the pros and cons of such a taxing activity, and his drive to prioritize passion over profit.  We also delve into Mike's hobbies, his unique philosophy of dealing with life's curve balls, and much more.  Some Questions I Ask: How you got into the Union and became an electrical journeyman? (3:07)In August of 2012, you became an instructor for the ATF on explosive safe handling and disposal. Could you talk a bit about that? (7:12) In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Mike's decision to work in the trades (4:13)How is it like being a first responder when tragedies hit (10:12)The benefits of setting the bar as high as we can (13:39)Some of Mike's passions and hobbies (17:48)Why putting passion before profit always pays off (20:29) Connect with Mike: LinkedIn Let's Connect! LinkedInInstagram TwitterMPC Builders - WebsiteMPC Builders - Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.