Bernard Fontaine (born March 2, 1940) has served in the United States Army and as a volunteer firefighter, Search and Rescue,[clarification needed] and deacon.

[5] He is serving with the Georgia State Defense Force as the Senior Advisor to the Commanding General for Search and Rescue Operations.

After returning to the US he attended further training in the US Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, for radio and Officer Candidate School, graduating as a Second Lieutenant.

[citation needed] After finishing his tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968 at the age of 28, he took a break from active service and joined the National Guard.

While in the National Guard he used his life savings and started his own construction/grading business, buying equipment and trucks to maintain roads and excavate/grade land for new homes.

In the mid-1970s, he was offered and accepted an engineering position to maintain the buildings and training facilities for the Army National Guard as Captain.

Retiring in 1990, he now farms his land in Suches, which lie in the mountains of North Georgia – located between the cities of Dahlonega and Blairsville.

[citation needed] He ran for Congress, and on the Republican ticket launched his campaign for U.S. House of Representatives with the US economy, and leadership as the focus of his run for office in the State of Georgia's 9th District.