Deputy Chief Brad Trosky-Johnson dedicated his life to public service. In addition to more than three decades in the fire service, Brad enlisted in the Navy right out of high school and served for almost a decade, including during Operation Desert Storm, with multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf where he was honored with several combat awards and commendations.

Brad began his fire service career in the Navy as a GSE. In 1992, Brad was hired by the Boise Fire Department and worked his way up to the position of training captain. By the mid-90s, he was also appointed fire chief for the Middleton Rural Fire District. Brad grew the Middleton Rural Fire Department from a small volunteer department to a highly successful model for combination departments, eventually serving many years as full-time fire chief. During his years of professional growth, he developed his career by working as deputy chief of operations for the Caldwell Fire Department, later returning to Caldwell Fire as their deputy chief of training when he passed away unexpectedly.

Brad shared his love for the fire service with his wife, Karine, also a fire service professional, and passed it on to his sons, Cody and Cory. Brad traveled the state teaching classes and evaluating candidates for IFSAC certification. He was instrumental in developing advancements in the fire industry throughout Idaho, collaborating to develop many of the state’s fire service training curriculum and validation of Idaho’s IFSAC testing materials. Brad served many years as the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association’s representative to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. His exceptional knowledge and character made him a great teacher, an amazing formal and informal leader, and mentor to so many of Idaho’s fire service members in helping them to achieve their aspirations.

In addition to the fire service, Brad and Karine shared a love for the mountains, enjoying hunting, camping, “hobby logging,” gold mining and, above all else, epic motorcycle trips. Brad and Karine also shared a love for metal working and opened Liberty Machine & Custom Fabrication to be, when they were ready, their “retirement gig.” There they combined their knowledge and skills, working together to design, engineer, and bring ideas to life. Life with Brad was always an adventure!

Brad will always be remembered as a loving husband to Karine, a devoted father to his children Cody, Kaylyne, and Cory, and “Papa” to many grandchildren, as well as a loyal friend and fire service icon in the state of Idaho.