David Fulmer was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Steubenville, Ohio by his mother, Judith, and his late father, Otto Wayne. He has three siblings — an older sister, Stephanie, a twin brother, Otto, and a younger sister, Jennifer.

David began his public safety career with the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department where he started as a cadet in 1984. He served with the department until 1993, rising to the rank of Captain.

In 1987, David joined the Ohio National Guard with the 22/174th Air Defense Artillery Unit located in Steubenville. He attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and advanced individual training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. He later transferred to the 737th Maintenance Battalion in Newark, Ohio, and in 1994 to the 33rd Infantry Brigade in Urbana, Illinois.

David served 11 years in the Guard and held the following MOS classifications: 31C Single Channel Radio Operator, 88M Motor Transportation Specialist, and 11B Infantryman.

He is a 1998 graduate of Jefferson Union High School in Richmond, Ohio, and attended the University of Akron, earning an A.A.S. in Fire Protection Technology and a B.S. in Technical Education. While in college, David worked for the City of Fairlawn as a Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Haz-Mat Technician, and Fire Inspector, serving from 1989 to 1993.

In 1993, David was hired by the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute as a faculty member, where he served as one of the primary instructors for the Recruit Academy, led the Annual Fire College, and managed the Officer Development Programs. He also served with the Village of Savoy Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT, Captain, and Assistant Chief. During this time, David earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Governors State University and completed the U.S. Fire Administration’s Executive Fire Officer Program, the fire service’s equivalent of the FBI National Academy.

In 1998, David became Fire Chief for the City of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison. While serving there, he was active in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Association (serving as Executive Secretary and Treasurer), and the Dane County Fire Chiefs Association. He also taught at Madison Area Technical College and served with Fitchburg until 2002.

In 2002, David assumed the role of Fire Chief for the Miami Township Division of Fire/EMS in Miamisburg, Ohio. He was involved with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, Montgomery County Chiefs Association, FEMA USAR OTF-1, and the Ohio Region III Strike Team, as well as teaching at Sinclair Community College. He served Miami Township from 2002 to 2009.

In 2009, David was appointed Fire Chief for the West Licking Joint Fire District. During that time, he remained active in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, Licking County Fire Chiefs Association, and the Licking County LEPC. He served the district until July 2014.

In 2014, David transitioned from public service to the private sector. He has since held leadership roles including Regional Sales Manager for Target Solutions, Business Development Director for Buckeye Protection Services, National Director of Sales & Marketing for S&S Medical Products, and currently serves as Regional Service Manager for TIBA Parking Systems, overseeing operations for the eastern United States.

David also continues to provide consulting services to public-safety agencies and government entities through the Fulmer/Shaw Consulting Group (FSCG), which he has owned and operated since 2006. FSCG specializes in operational audits, recruitment and retention strategies, public records management, policy development, promotional centers, and executive recruitments.