Coffee: The Ultimate Damage Controlman

America’s veterans are some of the hardest working individuals in the country. These men and women, who signed their names on the dotted line and took the oath to protect this country’s Constitution, are nothing short of amazing heroes with a whole lot of backbone. Which is why Fire Dept. Coffee prides itself on giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for their families and for our country. And it’s also just one reason why our Founder and CEO, Luke Schneider founded this coffee company in the first place.

A veteran himself, Luke served in the Navy from 2004 to 2008. He was a Petty Officer Second Class as well as a Damage Controlman (DC) and a Shipboard Firefighter. His service is just one cog in the machine of his coffee passion.

So… what do these titles mean?

Petty Officer Second Class is the second of the Navy's Petty Officer grades. The person with this title serves as a junior non-commissioned officer. This rank also serves as both a leader and a technical expert.

A Navy Damage Controlman does the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare defense. They also instruct personnel in the methods of damage control and CBR defense and repair damage control equipment and systems.



Impressive. But what does being a veteran have to do with coffee?

Luke started drinking coffee while he was in the Navy. Then when he left and started working as a firefighter, with a continued schedule of long, sleepless nights and groggy days, the need for caffeine stuck with him. His veteran status was only part of it. But he noticed, too, that firefighters did not have as much of a support system as do other first responders. And thus, along with the coffee inspiration his wife gave him, Fire Dept. Coffee and everything it stands for was born.

Luckily for everyone, coffee has a reputation for putting out the fires and repairing the damages of life and property that would otherwise get far worse. Fire Dept. Coffee is a veteran-owned and veteran-led coffee company that first responders and military, whether active or retired, can truly believe in.

Today and every day, we are thankful for our veterans — in every branch of the US Military — who put their lives in the line of danger to protect our freedom. To our brave men and women, we salute you.