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THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES
Ron Holcomb retired in 2020 after a 40-year public service career dedicated to protecting the environment.
He spent nearly 25 years as a spill responder for the Washington State Department of Ecology, serving as the Spill Team Lead for the Southwest Region. During that time, he handled more than 6,000 oil and hazardous material spill incidents.
Before becoming a spill responder, Ron was a public information officer for the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Today, he draws on those experiences to tell the true stories of the people, science, politics, and tough decisions behind Washington's environmental emergencies.
ROOTED IN THE OUTDOORS
ROOTED IN THE OUTDOORS
Ron's love of the outdoors began with childhood visits to national parks and forests and early involvement with The Mountaineers. That passion for wild places grew into a lifelong dedication to environmental stewardship and public service.
WHAT DRIVES RON
WHAT DRIVES RON
From oil spills to train wrecks, from clandestine drug labs to derelict vessels, Ron has seen the best and worst of human impact on the environment, and the extraordinary people who step up when disaster strikes.
"If you've ever wondered who gets the call in the middle of the night when bad things happen in the environmental world, Ron Holcomb can tell you. And take you along for the ride. Terrestrial and marine oil spills, tanker truck and train wrecks, meth labs and derelict vessels, Holcomb and his Department of Ecology co-workers have seen, and cleaned them all. Constant Chaos puts you right there and gives readers an inside look at what happens on callout after callout."
- DOUG ZIMMER
Former Media, Congressional & Tribal Liaison and Emergency Response Coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service in Washington, and former Information and Education Specialist for the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife
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