Grew up in: New Mexico
Currently lives in: Gainesville, VA
Family: Wife Meredith a dog (Macy) and a cat (Beo); has a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandkids.
John K Gaffney is the treasurer of the Arts Alliance. He has had a long and successful career in public safety and emergency management. He is currently the senior advisor to the Director of the business office for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Programs.
John graduated from Texas Tech, and completed his masters studies at the University of New Mexico.
FOUR FUN FACTS
- John was one of the original federal employees when the Department of Homeland Security opened on March 1, 2003.
- His career in public safety has included being a firefighter, paramedic, police officer, tactical hazardous materials and special operations technician, flight medic in both helicopter and fixed-wing (airplane) aircraft, and hospital emergency manager.
- He commanded a disaster medical team and has responded to over 15 major disasters including hurricanes, fires, floods, and both the Pentagon and Ground Zero after September 11, 2001.
- John comes from an aviation family. When he was younger his family owned their own plane until his dad sold it so he could build one. John’s dad and a brother were pilots, and another brother is a pilot, air force flight surgeon, and flew in space as an astronaut. John can identify what kind of helicopter it is just by the sound it makes.