Search and Rescue & Dive Rescue: A Lifelong Mission

David Burnell’s journey in Search and Rescue (SAR) has taken him into some of the world’s most challenging environments and life-or-death situations, from the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota to disaster zones in Haiti, Burma, and post-tsunami Japan. As a SAR instructor and active team member, David has participated in hundreds of missions, including air operations, technical rope rescues, cave and mine extractions, swift water and ice rescues, wildfire evacuations, and body recoveries. Each mission demanded discipline, teamwork, and the unshakable resolve to answer the call when others needed help most.

Driven by the same commitment, David advanced into Dive Rescue, earning certification as a Public Safety SCUBA Instructor through Dive Rescue International (DRI) and serving as Vice President of the Rapid City Dive Team. Leading and participating in complex underwater recovery operations, David operated in zero-visibility waters, under ice, and within submerged vehicles and aircraft, training federal dive teams and foreign special operations pilots in life-saving rescue and egress techniques. His journey included intense, elite-level training under former Navy SEAL instructors, teaching him to lead under pressure, manage risk, and maintain composure in the harshest environments.

These experiences did more than shape David’s skills—they shaped his soul. Each mission carried physical, emotional, and spiritual weight, reinforcing his commitment to leave no one behind and to serve with compassion, precision, and courage. Whether on a mountainside, in floodwaters, or beneath the ice, David’s work in Search and Rescue and Dive Rescue reflects a lifelong dedication to protecting others and honoring the lives of those he serves.