After reaching the rank of senior fireman, Mr Harrison signed up for a parachute course and quickly became hooked, going on to train New Zealand defence personnel.
"My step-father was in the British Army, his influence got me into jumping, as well as the fact that the hangar was right next to the fire station.
"When I first started, the parachutes were terrible - they were old, so they fell really quickly and they also had no brakes or steering. By the time I left my position, I was running the advanced training cell with experience in every aspect, from round parachutes to square parachutes, freefall and tandem jumping, dispatching vehicles from a C-130 Hercules military aircraft and instructing instructors."
Mr Harrison said his needs changed with a young family and it was time to apply his military skills to the civilian sector.
His new role at Rotorua Airport is no small task, encompassing every aspect of running the airport including fire safety, security, runway inspections, maintenance, parking and managing the contractors.
"I'm really looking forward to sinking my teeth into a job that I can happily spend the next 10 years in. My role is almost a combination of everything I've learnt," he said.