Demir Miljkovic

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A native of Bosnia, Demir Miljkovic spent much of his childhood in a warzone. When his family emigrated to the United States, Demir saw it as an opportunity to pursue a career where he could express his passion for helping others.

As a student at Urbandale High School he found that passion – quite by accident. On his first day of school in a new country, there was a scheduled fire drill. Unfamiliar with anything other than air raid sirens, Demir sprinted for cover in an interior bathroom. It took a group of teachers and a translator to convince him that it was just a fire drill and he was not in danger.

In the days that followed his English as a second language class did some fire department and fire safety training and he was hooked.

During his senior year, he earned certification as a Firefighter/EMT. In the weeks after his high school graduation he was hired full-time as a member of the Urbandale Fire Department. Not one to rest after earning his position, Demir enrolled at DMACC with an eye toward becoming a Paramedic Specialist. He earned his AA in 2011 and from there attended Waldorf College where he earned his BS in Fire Science Administration with Summa Cum Laude honors. Today, he is nearing completion of a Master's degree in Public Administration.

In tandem with his education, he has steadily moved up at the Urbandale Fire Department. In 2013, he was promoted to Driver/Engineer, in 2015 he was named Lieutenant, and in 2019 he earned the rank of Captain where he currently serves as the Shift Supervisor. In addition, he is tasked as the technical rescue lead for the department. Twice he has been recognized with awards for his excellence in training.

In his free time, Demir launched Better Builders in 2015. The construction company has grown into a multi-million-dollar operation and one of the best outdoor living companies in Iowa.​​