Long Beach Fire Department
Junior Lifeguard Program
Junior Lifeguard Batalion Chief
MSBC Omar Naranjo
Years as a Lifeguard: 28 years
Years overseeing JG Program: 8
Education: Garfield HS (E.L.A.), Cerritos College, Executive Leadership Program USC Price
What is your favorite marine animal and why? Chinook salmon - can adapt to different environments and swim against the current to get the job done.
What is a fun fact about yourself? Traveled with Red Bull Air Race for 5 years teaching pilots egress from submerged aircraft.
Sgt. Gabriel Buso
JG Coordinator
Years as a Lifeguard: 9 years
Years with JGs: 1st
Education: A.A. in Kinesiology
What is your favorite marine animal and why? Clownfish, because of Finding Nemo
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? The Aquarium of the Pacific
Favorite Hobbies? Chess, water polo, and playing with my son
Kylee Yocky
Administrative Assistant
Years with LBFD: 9 years
Years with JGs: all 9 years!
Education: B.A. from Cal State Fullerton
What is your go-to dance move? Anything that embarrasses my children
Which JG event are you most excited for? the Ironguard!
Fun fact about yourself? I'm a mom of 3 that has never had a sip of coffee
Years as Lifeguard: 8 years
Years with JGs: 4!
Education: B.S. in Sociology from UCLA
Fun fact about yourself? I was a Long Beach Junior Lifeguard for 6 years!
What is your favorite place in Long Beach? Schooner or Later
Favorite hobbies? Body surfing and free diving
Brooke Gruneisen
JG Assistant Coordinator
2026 Instructor Team
Ian Minsterman
Cadet / A Group Instructor
Years as a Lifeguard: 8 years
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Years with JGs: 3 summers
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What event are you must excited for? Excited most for pier jumps.
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What song would be on your beach day playlist? What a Feeling by Stick Figure
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Sunrise or Sunsets? Sunrise
Paige Jorgensen
A Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: This is my 4th summer!
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Years with JGs: This is my 2nd summer as an instructor!
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What JG event are you most excited for: The Ironguard!
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What song would be on your beach day playlist: Every Morning by Sugar Ray
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What is your favorite sea creature: Hammerhead shark!
Isabell Ortega
A Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: This is my 6th summer
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Years with JGs: 3rd summer
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What JG event are you most excited for?
Pier Jumps
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What is your favorite ocean movie?
Aquamarine
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What song would be on your beach day playlist?
Sapo Cai by Carlinhos Brown, Mikael Mutti
Kelly McCormick
B Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4 summers
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Years with JGs: 2nd year with JGs
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What event are you must excited for? I am most excited for the Ironguard
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Explore a sunken ship or swim with dolphins? I would take my Junior Guards to a sunken ship to snorkel
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What is your favorite tower on the beach?
My favorite tower is 55th.
Eduardo Dominguez
B Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4 years
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Years with JGs: 2 years!
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Which JG event are you most excited for?
Ironguard!!!
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Favorite marine animal?
Penguins!
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Explore a sunken ship or swim with dolphins?: Swim with dolphins!
Julia Gillott
B Group Instructor
Years as a Lifeguard: 3 years
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Years with JGs: My first summer!
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Which JG event are you most excited for?
Pier Jumps!!
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What is your favorite sea creature? Moon jellies!
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What is your favorite ocean movie?
Aquamarine
Brittany Mendoza
B Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4 years
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Years with JGs: 2nd summer
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Which JG event are you most excited for?
I am most excited for pier jumps!
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What is your favorite ocean movie?
Finding Dory
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What is your favorite sea creature?
Stingray
Gage Gutierrez
B Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 3 years
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Years with JGs: Its my first summer!
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Which JG event are you most excited for?
I am most excited for the Pier Jumps!
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What is your favorite ocean movie?
My favorite ocean movie is Moana
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What is your favorite Marine Animal?
Sharks are my favorite, I think they are so cool.
Vanessa Newton
B Group Instructor
Years as a Lifeguard: 4th summer
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Years with JGs: 2nd summer
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What event are you most excited for? The Ironguard!
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What is your favorite marine animal?
Sea Otters
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What is your favorite ocean movie?:
Mama Mia
Eric Estrada
B / C Group Instructor
Years as a Lifeguard: 5 years
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Years with JGs: 3rd summer!
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What event are you looking forward to the most? Regional Runoffs!
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Favorite sea creature?
Giant Phantom Jellyfish!
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Favorite ocean movie?
Finding Nemo
Bridget Ball
C Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4 years
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Years with JGs: this is my 1st summer!
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Which JG event are you most excited for?
Regionals because I get to watch our LBJGs crush it!!
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What song would be on your beach day playlist? Lazy Afternoon by Rebelution
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Sunrise or Sunset? Sunsets all the way! There’s no better way to end the day
Kaylee Bloeser
C Group Instructor
Years as a Lifeguard: 3 summers
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Years with JGs: 1st summer!
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What JG event are you most excited far?
Pier jumps!
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Favorite ocean movie?
Chasing Mavericks because I love surfing, and it shows the dedication, courage, and respect for the ocean that comes with it.
​Sunrise or sunset? Sunset!
Brooke Ortega
C Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 5 years
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Years with JGs: 3 years
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What event are you must excited for? I'm most excited for Pier Jumps
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What is your favorite marine animal?
Sea otter
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What If you could take your JGs on a field trip anywhere in the ocean, where would you go?
I would explore a sunken ship
Nico Song
C Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: 4 years
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Years with JGs: 2nd summer!
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Which JG event are you excited for? the Ironguard because my JGs are gonna crush it!
Favorite marine animal? Bat Rays
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What is your favorite ocean field trip?
Wibit!
Marley Isaacson
C Group Instructor
Years as Lifeguard: This is my third summer
Years with JGs: This is my first summer with JGs
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Which JG event are you excited for?
Pier Jumps!
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What song would be on your beach playlist? Amber by 311
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What is your favorite beach movie?
Surfs Up
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