Bob Gray dedicated 32 years to the fire and EMS profession, beginning as a volunteer before joining the Arlington County Fire Department, where he ultimately retired as a Battalion Chief. Throughout his career, he held a variety of leadership positions, including Field Battalion Chief, Training Division Chief, and Personnel Services Division Chief. He also led Arlington County’s Critical Incident Stress Management program, supporting firefighters and other first responders following traumatic events.

On September 11, 2001, Bob was among the first responders who answered the call when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. As a fire department captain and member of the Arlington/Alexandria Technical Rescue Team, he led a team battling the resulting fires and was later assigned as a collapse team leader. His experiences that day—and his years helping fellow first responders cope with the emotional impact of their work—deepened his commitment to helping others through difficult and traumatic experiences.

Shortly after retiring from the fire department, Bob faced a life-changing challenge of his own when a fall at his home resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. His daughter’s quick call to 911, the lifesaving efforts of first responders and neurosurgeons, and extensive rehabilitation played a critical role in his remarkable recovery. His journey inspired him to write Shoring Up Ourselves: An Inspirational Story of Never Giving Up, sharing his experience in hopes of encouraging others to persevere through their own challenges and recovery.

Bob brings that same spirit of resilience and service to the 2026 DC’s Dancing Stars Gala. While his own experience is different from that of the individuals and families supported by the Raymond A. Wood Foundation, he understands firsthand how profoundly a life-altering brain injury can affect an individual and those around them. He is honored to dance in support of RAWF and its mission to improve the lives of survivors of hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors and their caregivers.