2024 West Volusia Veteran Free Roof Winner

Duane North joined the army at 18 years of age. He moved to Pierson from Rockledge, Florida. Before he joined the Army, he graduated from Taylor Middle/High School. Duane was assigned to Ft. Benning for basic training, June of 1994. He then was sent to Ft. Knox for 2 years. After that, Duane was assigned to Ft Drum, in New York state, for 3 years. Duane then re-enlisted at Ft Benning and was promoted to ES/Sargent, where he became an instructor at infantry school.

Duane gave a total of 6 years and 8 months to the United States Army. When he was given the choice of recruiter or exiting the Army, he decided to ETS with an Honorable Discharge.

Duane spent about a year living in Western New York. He then moved back to Florida. Duane used his GI Bill to attend Daytona Community College Police Academy. He graduated and was hired by the City of Daytona Beach Police Department. He spent two years as a Daytona Beach Police Officer. Duane then worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Volusia County for the next three years. Duane always wanted to be part of the Fish and Wildlife & Conservation so he was hired as a Conservation Law Enforcement Officer with FWC where he has been for 17 years.

Duane has spent the last 10 years with the K9 Unit. He is currently working his second dog, Maggie, a yellow lab who is trained in tracking persons, locating hidden illegal fish and wildlife, and evidence recovery. Maggie is his partner/working dog. Duane was recently promoted to one of four positions in the state as K9 Trainer for the agency. In addition to normal patrol and K9 duties, he is now responsible for the training of four other K9 Teams and travel around the state conducting K9 training.

Duane is a single dad with two children, a seventeen year old son and a fourteen year old daughter. He travels throughout Florida training dogs.