David A. Bucknam
Captain of the Guard
David Bucknam currently resides in the Town of Oakland, where he and his wife of 33 years, Jody Bucknam, built their home and raised their two sons, Logan Bucknam and Kyle Bucknam. David grew up in Oakland but was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where his grandfather was a Command Sergeant Major with the U.S. Army Special Forces. Continuing in family tradition, David joined the Army in 1992 and, after completing the Ranger Indoctrination Program, was one of 66 out of 250 selected for the Special Operations Unit of the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia.
While in Savannah, David attended the US Army’s premier leadership courses, Ranger School, SERE School (Search, Evade, Resist, and Escape), Pathfinder, and Jump School, to name a few. David quickly rose through the ranks from private (E-1) to sergeant first class (E-7) within 10 years of service. David held the positions of rifleman, team leader, squad leader, and anti-tank/ sniper section leader and deployed around the world in support of American interests.
In 1999, he accepted a position as an instructor at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, Florida. David designed and taught numerous classes and served as one of three hyperbaric chamber supervisors for the entire U.S. Army. While in Key West, David completed the State of Florida law enforcement academy and received an outstanding leadership award upon graduation. While still on active duty, David worked for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Deputy and SWAT team member.
In 2004, David traveled to Iraq with a private company. He was quickly promoted from security specialist to Site Security Manager, where he oversaw the daily operations and logistics for 10 American outposts and 600 Security Specialists, who protected the Army Corps of Engineers as they detonated unexploded ordnance throughout Iraq. These missions kept explosives from the Insurgents, using them as IED’s on American Soldiers. Under his leadership, David is proud to say that there was no loss of American life or equipment during his command.
In 2006, David was hired by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked as a Patrol Deputy, an Investigator with the Major Crimes Unit, and a Patrol Sergeant. David’s experience was instrumental in building, training, and equipping the agency’s SWAT and dive teams. He served as team leader and executed hundreds of search warrants.
In 2015, David took a position with a private company in El Paso, Texas. He was the manager of a 6,000-acre training facility that held a Top-Secret Security rating from the U.S. Government. ATF, U.S. Marshals, United States Army, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and private entities received training in various courses designed to meet critical needs. David also conducted armed transports for VIPs from companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Wrangler Jeans to their factories throughout Mexico.
In 2017, David became the Chief of Police in the Town of Skowhegan, where he is still employed. A few of David’s law enforcement certifications include the FBI Trilogy Leeda courses, FBI Hostage Negotiations course, SWAT 1 and SWAT 2, Sniper and Advanced Sniper Courses, and Internal Affairs.
David began his Masonic Journey in the State of Texas and completed his Master Mason degree at Messalonskee Lodge #113 in the Town of Oakland. David is currently the District Deputy for the 12th Masonic District, Most Wise Master for Scottish Rite, Secretary for York Rite “Chapter and Counsel”, Sir Knight with Trinity #1 Commandry, and Past Director of the Drifter Unit. David’s dedication to hard work, team building, and a professional work ethic contributes to his many successes.