Joseph Wankelman was elected to the South County Fire Board of Commissioners in 2025. He brings 17 years of military service as an Apache helicopter pilot, including four combat deployments, three tours to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, serving as pilot in command, air mission commander, and maintenance test pilot for hundreds of combat sorties. Commissioner Wankelman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Washington and holds a Master of Science in Data Analytics and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, with additional studies at Stanford and Caltech. He serves as Executive Director of the Foundation for Stable Housing, where he has conducted over 2,000 interviews with vulnerable populations and developed evidence based approaches to stable housing. Commissioner Wankelman is a leading advocate for making Community Response Paramedic programs permanent. He brings the same discipline that kept aircraft in the air and crews safe to delivering fire and EMS services: preparation, fiscal responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the people we serve.
Commissioner District 1 Term ends Dec. 31, 2031
Email Joe Wankelman, 425-551-1251