In the latest installment of his annual award for outstanding commitment and achievement, Whaleyville Volunteer Fire Department’s chief selected an individual he has entrusted with important responsibilities despite having limited experience.

David Stacknick, who will have been with the department for just two years in August, said he was inspired to become a volunteer firefighter as a high-schooler in Pennsylvania.

He had observed folks serving in the local department, he said, and decided he’d like to some day follow in their footsteps.

Then he spent six years in the Navy. “I got a chance to go up on the flight deck and work some of the flight ops,” Stacknick said.

“When I got out of the military, I wanted to get that thrill again, and help out my community. And I thought the best way to do that would be to join the fire department.”

The Navy brought Stacknick to Hampton Roads. He lives with his wife in Whaleyville.

Stacknick is a woodworker employed full-time at Windsor Woodworking. In his spare time, he does a few jobs at home on the side.

At first, Whaleyville VFD was “a little overwhelming,” Stacknick said. But by attending meetings and engine check-offs, and simply hanging out at the department as much as possible, he grew more comfortable with the trucks and other equipment.

He started the Firefighter 1 course around the beginning of 2014. “Chief Brothers asked me to keep an eye on everybody,” he said.

Stacknick said he coordinated with the instructor to ensure members had the knowledge to make it through the class, which he estimated takes 200 hours.

“It was kind of early on in the game that I had responsibility,” he said.

Stacknick said he’s about to complete Firefighter 2 certification, and would like to also become certified for extraction and technical rescue.

When the Chief’s Award was announced during the last Christmas party, Stacknick said, he was so surprised he didn’t really comprehend what had just happened.

“My wife said, ‘Go up there and get it,’ because I didn’t know he (Charles “Chuck” Brothers, the chief) said it,” he said. “It blew me away, because I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

Brothers said Stacknick “exhibited to me early on a desire to be involved with the organization.”

“He energized other members to step up to the plate,” Brothers continued. “He wanted to be involved with the organization and he wanted people to succeed. He’s only been in the community a short time, but he’s a very motivated member.”