My name is Paul Maldonado and I am a Driver Engineer/Paramedic – B assigned to Station 52 “C” – “The Hornet’s Nest”. I have proudly been a member of the Dallas Fire Department for 20 Years. My extracurricular accomplishments since I have been in the Fire Department are 4 Gold Medals in Softball while participating in The Texas Firefighter Olympics. I am a second-generation firefighter, my Father Served 32 Years with the San Antonio Fire Department retiring as a Lieutenant. I have 2 children, a son, 22 years old, who is currently serving in the United States Navy, and a daughter, 23 years old, who is currently attending Nursing School at The University of Texas at Arlington.
I have obtained a B.A.A.S. in Fire Service Administration from Texas A&M San Antonio and also have an A.A.S. from Weatherford College in Fire Science Technology. I have been selected as a Special Event Medic with the Dallas Fire Department and have been actively using my Paramedic Certification for EMS events throughout the City of Dallas for 17 years while participating in High Profile Medic Services including Presidential Motorcades, Hurricane Shelters for displaced families, Homeless Shelters for Cold Weather Procedures, and both Covid Testing and Covid Vaccinations just to mention a few. I was 1 of 6 Medics selected in June of 2020 to be a part of The EMT-F Task Force created by Governor Greg Abbott to Covid Test Nursing Homes throughout the Metroplex at the beginning of the Covid Global Pandemic. I have had the opportunity to be a backup Command Technician and have driven Battalion Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs. With this certification, I was able to participate as a Command Technician staffing the Dallas Fire-Rescue Command Van while Atmos Gas repaired gas lines after a Tragic Home Explosion in 2018.
This is my first year on the Executive Board for the Dallas Hispanic Firefighters Association after being nominated for the current 2-year position. I have always wanted to have a more active role with the Union but was unable to up until now due to school and family commitments, but now that I have more time, I want to be able to contribute to this Union and give back. I was reminded by a fellow member quite some time ago that if you want your voice to be heard and to make some kind of change, you have to have a seat at the table. I am excited to take on this role because I have 6 years of experience as a Treasurer for The Nimitz High School Track and Cross Country Booster Club in Irving Texas, and I feel that I am going to be a great addition to the DHFA EBoard. My pledge to our union members and my fellow EBoard members is to hold this position with the highest regard and to be there for our members, I want each member to know that if I can’t answer your question directly, I will find you an answer ASAP. Thank You for this opportunity.
