Lieutenant Tad Parks grew up in the fire service with a family of fire officers and started as an explorer with Washington Township Fire Department (Montgomery County) in 2009. He was hired as a part-paid volunteer in 2010 then progressed through part-time and full-time firefighter ranks, while concurrently working three years for Sugarcreek Township Fire Department (Greene County). He currently serves as a lieutenant on the department’s rescue engine, Region 3 Strike Team member and the peer support coordinator for Washington Township. In 2021, he published an article, "Success and Pitfall of Peer Support Groups", for the OFCA In Command Magazine.