Upon graduating from High School, Chief Palmer joined the fire service as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Hood River Fire Department in Hood River, Oregon while employed with Warner Cable Television. In 1978 he attended Chemeketa Community College earning an Associate Degree in Fire Science. Upon graduating from Chemeketa, Chief Palmer was hired by The City of The Dalles Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT in April of 1980.   Chief Palmer rose through the ranks of Engineer, Captain, Manager of Fire Operations, and Fire Chief with the City of The Dalles and upon merging with Wasco Rural Fire Protection District in 1995, filled the Assistant Fire Chief of Training and Operations role for 12 years before transitioning to the Fire Chief position in July of 2007. Chief Palmer earned a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration from Eastern Oregon State College in 1996, is certified as a NFPA Fire Officer III with the State of Oregon and holds additional Fire and EMS certifications that support him in the position of Fire Chief.