Matt Nelson originally planned to pursue a career in computer programming after high school.
Those plans took a large turn when he decided to check out a Fire Explorer Program in 2004, which is sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, after graduating from Eastview High School in Apple Valley in 2002.
“I was 18 or 19; I joined that for about a year. I decided this was something I wanted to do,” Nelson recalled.
Fast forward to 2019, and Nelson is now the second in command at the Apple Valley Fire Department. The Apple Valley City Council approved hiring Nelson as the next deputy fire chief on May 9, and he started the position on May 14. He filled a vacancy left by Chuck Russell when he was promoted to fire chief in March.
“I’m very happy the city had enough confidence in me to promote me to that position. I’ve had nothing but great compliments or words of encouragement from the firefighters that they’re happy I was given the position, or that I was a good fit,” he said.