Hometown Hero: CERT Member Joe Kwan

When Joe Kwan is not analyzing water contamination, he is saving lost hikers, putting out brush fires, and helping local law enforcement chase after convicted felons on the run. Environmental engineer Kwan is a member of Agoura Hills CERT's Disaster Reponse Team and Search and Rescue.

A native of Hong Kong, Kwan came to California as a teenager, matriculating to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. He worked mostly in California before a move to Ohio for a company which was eventually acquired by Northrop Grunman, bringing him back to California in 2003. 

The Corporate Director of Environmental Remediation at Northrop Grunman, Kwan analyzes and strives to minimize soil and groundwater contamination. He commutes to his Century City office from Agoura Hills, where he has lived and volunteered locally since late 2003. 

He began volunteering through church in 1978 and today is the Employment Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, working with church members in Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, and Newbury Park.

From church, he turned to the greater community for volunteer opportunities. 

"I thought I could help with anything environmental. When I checked into [city volunteer opportunities], I found out about CERT," he said. "The goal is to minimize the trauma when an accident or a disaster strikes. The CERT program is emergency preparedness at its best."

Launched in the early '90s, the program was not yet fully formed in Agoura Hills, so Kwan received his training in neighboring Calabasas. When Agoura Hills CERT was re-constituted in 2004 after a long break, Kwan became one of the charter members.

"There is nothing like being able to reach out and help personally," said Kwan. "In what we do, we have a direct connection in minimizing people's pain and suffering." 

In addition to his contribution to the Agoura Hills CERT team, Kwan is a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the LA County Sheriff's Department, specializing in search and rescue with the Malibu Search and Rescue team. Becoming a Reserve Deputy Sheriff requires six months of a 40 hour-per-week commitment with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy. 

"It is very rewarding to know you have a hand in making a difference in someone's life, or bringing closure to a family," Kwan said.

Kwan and his team with the Malibu Search and Rescue frequently help cars that have accidentally driven off cliffs and hikers and campers who have lost their way. They also assist local law enforcement by setting up containment areas when criminal suspects are on the loose, or recovering bodies of the missing. 

Kwan also recently completed the Emergency Medical Technician Program at UCLA, over the course of three months. This required over 20 hours per week while working his full-time job.

Kwan is very encouraging of his fellow Agoura Hills residents to become involved. The training is free, and it is literally life-saving, Kwan pointed out. 

"I feel that everyone in the city should get involved with the CERT program and be trained," he said. "The better the community is trained, the better we can take care of ourselves, our families and our neighborhoods."