Two Los Angeles County firefighters have been selected to receive a major award at the 2025 ESPYs taking place on Wednesday night.
“Two Los Angeles-area first responders — David Walters of the Los Angeles Fire Department and Erin Regan of Los Angeles County Fire — have been named recipients of the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service at the upcoming 2025 ESPY Awards,” the L.A. County Fire Department shared in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning.
The Pat Tillman Award, which was awarded to Prince Harry in 2024, is designed to reflect the legacy of former NFL player Pat Tillman, who left professional sports to join the military in the months after Sept. 11, 2001, and was tragically killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. According to the Pat Tillman Foundation, organizers look to “empower individuals who dedicate their lives to service and leadership,” and the award is given to honorees with “deep ties to sports” and who have also echoed Tillman’s legacy.
“David and Erin embody that spirit in every way,” the foundation said in a statement. “In January 2025, as Southern California battled one of its most destructive wildfire seasons, David and Erin were among the 7,500 emergency personnel on the frontlines, facing extreme conditions and personal loss to protect their communities. Their bravery and commitment during this crisis are a powerful example of service beyond self.”
As for the two firefighters’ connections to sports, according to both the Tillman Foundation and LACoFD, David is a decorated Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in swimming, and Erin was a collegiate and professional soccer goalkeeper and has been an advocate and co-founder of programs to uplift women in firefighting.
LACoFD said David has served with the LAFD for nearly a decade. “His athletic achievements include a gold medal in the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and multiple World Aquatic Championship medals. He set a world record alongside teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Ricky Berens.”
Erin, according to the fire department, earned first-team All-ACC Honors and set several school records during her time as a collegiate soccer goalkeeper at Wake Forest University. “She went on to play professionally with the Washington Freedom before joining LACoFD in 2008,” said LACoFD, adding that she also co-founded initiatives like the “Girls Fire Camp” and Women’s Fire Prep Academy to support female recruits.
The ESPYs ceremony is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. in Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on July 16.
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