Homeland Security Director moves on
Kimball Croft reflects on 11 years in Washakie County
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Tesia Galvan
Kimball Croft sits in the Washakie County Commissioners Room on Wednesday afternoon on his final day of work. Croft, who has sat in this room many times before at meetings, said goodbye to many colleagues and friends. He said what he'll miss most about Washakie County is the friends he and his wife have made over the last 20 years, and Worland has been the longest place they've stayed.
WORLAND – Like many people, previous Washakie County Homeland Security Director Kimball Croft had several other jobs before finding his passion.
Before finding his passion in Homeland Security and emergency management, Croft worked as a school administrator, a research analyst and in taxes.
The jump from education to analyst to Homeland Security was a simple one because when it comes down to the bare bones of the job, the work isn't that different.
"There wasn't much difference than being an assistant principal at the high school. You worked with people who weren't always perfect," Croft said.
Croft, who has lived in Washakie County for the past 20 years, was the Homeland Security Director and Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC) president for 11 years before announcing his resignation at a May Washakie County Commissioner meeting.
Before his last day on May 10, Croft said he was one of the longest tenured people in the state.
Following his departure from Washakie County, Croft will move on to be the Park County Emergency Coordinator with a central office for the county in Cody.
Though he looks back fondly of his time serving the community in Washakie County, Croft said he decided to move because "it was the right time and the right location."
He said his biggest and most recent accomplishment as Homeland Security director was the 2013 ice jam, and expressed it was a team effort – never accepting full credit.
"All the first responders were able to work together and none of the 60 people were evacuated were hurt," Croft said.
In response to his team's efforts, Croft said it could have been a lot more dangerous because chunks of ice could have fallen off and destroyed people's homes.
"Some people estimated the ice chunks were up to 20,000 to 30,000 pounds," Croft said.
He also noted a big accomplishment as Homeland Security director was bringing in all the grant money for the county. "I think I've brought in close to $3 million worth of grant money for response equipment, radio equipment ... and a lot of things people don't realize we use on daily basis," Croft said.
"The best part of my job is you know you're doing it correctly when people don't know what you're doing," he added. "Most people have never come into my office and they don't know there is a room full of radio equipment and we can contact anyone in the United States via radio waves."
Croft said he hopes the new Homeland Security director doesn't get overwhelmed at the beginning because there's a lot of things to learn.
"Nobody really knows this job unless they've don't it ... the job keeps changing and evolving ... and it keeps changing as things change in the United States, Wyoming and in the world," Croft said.
In his final days as Homeland Security director, Croft said he found out the county received a three-year $85,000 grant for hazardous materials training for the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
The new Homeland security director will probably take on the role as LEPC president, Croft said.
New Hire
An interview committee was established to hire the incoming Homeland Security and all 12 applicants the county received were ranked from one to six. The top six applicants will come to Washakie County on Wednesday to interview for the Homeland Security director position.
Washakie County Commissioner Aaron Anderson said, "We'll interview on Wednesday and try to hire as soon as possible ... We might have to have a special meeting."
