Ira Wesley Kitmacher is a nationally and internationally published historian, author, and educator with a distinguished career spanning multiple fields. Before turning his focus to history and folklore, he served as a Senior Federal Executive for 36 years, working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Department of Treasury, and other agencies in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and beyond. As the Chief Human Capital Officer for the FDIC, he led the agency to be named the best federal workplace for six consecutive years and was honored as the FDIC’s Senior Executive of the Year in 2019. In academia, Ira has spent over a decade designing and instructing graduate and undergraduate courses at institutions such as Georgetown University and Portland State University. His teaching areas include history, folklore, law, business, and human resources. He also holds a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Arts degree, and he is a licensed attorney in California. His commitment to leadership development includes completing Harvard University’s Senior Executive Fellows Program. As an author, Ira has written multiple books focusing on history, folklore, and hauntings. His works include Haunted Graveyard of the Pacific, Spirits Along the Columbia River, Haunted Puget Sound, Pacific Northwest Legends and Lore, and Monsters and Miracles: Horror, Heroes and the Holocaust. His research on the supernatural, maritime legends, and wartime heroism has been recognized in magazines, newspapers, and podcasts, as well as on television and radio. Several of his books have been adapted into children’s editions, extending his reach to younger audiences.