CPT Kirikup
BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN 

  Kenneth F. Kirkup

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS - JOINT SERVICES COMMAND
        

Cpt. Kenneth F. Kirkup was born March 30th 1962 in Newcastle, England. His grandfather William Forbes served in WW1 with the British Army and was discharged honorably after being wounded fighting against the German Army in France. Cpt. Kirkup’s father Peter K. Kirkup served in The British Royal Navy and British Merchant Navy from 1943 through 1959. In December of 1969 at age 8 Captain Kirkup moved to southern California with his family who were seeking a better life here in the United States.

Captain Kirkup’s family settled in Huntington Beach, California. Captain Kirkup graduated Marina High School in 1979 and went on to Goldenwest College, first with a Major that was undecided, then finished GWC with an Associate of Arts Degree while Majoring in Electrical Engineering. From Goldenwest College Captain Kirkup went on to California State University Long Beach and changed his Major to Civil Engineering. Graduating in 1987, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Captain Kirkup accepted a job as a Transportation Engineer with the California Department of Transportation. He also became a U.S. Citizen earlier that year.

He obtained his Professional Engineering License in 1999. During his tenure with Caltrans, he took an active role with The Professional Engineers in California Government, a Union representing 14,000 Engineers working for the State of California. Starting out as Benefit Chairman for Orange County section of PECG, he later moved on to become President of the Orange County Section. Then he became Director of the Section and served as Director on the Statewide Board for two terms. He remained on the Statewide Board of PECG as Statewide Health and Safety Chairman for two terms and Statewide Membership Chairman. He served on the Statewide Political Action Committee and then went on to become Statewide Treasurer of PECG for two terms overseeing the millions of dollars in the PECG Union Accounts. He slowed down on his Union involvement in 2003.

Currently he is Lead Worker in Caltrans’ District office in Irvine, California. His group of 6 Engineers investigates High Accident Locations on the State Freeway and Highway system within Orange County and Design improvements to the system.

After learning that many veterans in the United States armed forces were being buried without Final Military Honors, he decided on joining the USV-JSC. He was sworn in as Captain in the USV-JSC in September 2006. Not having any prior Military Training, and knowing he would be serving along side former military, he became eager to learn. He trained and obtained the “Honor Guard” badge with the USV-JSC. He also has taken training through FEMA, including “Disaster Basics”, “Leadership and Influence”, “Intro to CERT” and “Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management”.

Through the Army Training Support Center he has taken the “Action Officer” course, “Physical Security” course, and “Defense Support of Civil Authorities”. With the National Guard training center he has taken “ARNG RRC Leadership Course” and “ESGR” Course.

He is active with the Civilian Marksmanship Program and has entered several shooting matches. The most recent that was held at Camp Pendleton Marine base in Southern California, under the supervision of the USMC. The M1 Garand has been used in the matches.

He has earned the following ribbons and badges with the USV-JSC:
Rifle Proficiency Badge
Emergency Service Training Ribbon
Qualification Training Ribbon
Military Indoctrination Ribbon
VA Cemetery Honors Ribbon

He is currently proudly serving as Acting J3 with the National Headquarters of the USV-JSC.