After high school he began to serve his country with the US Navy. His 1st job with the Navy was to board and search ships before becoming a dog handler searching for explosives. He served a tour of duty as a K9 handler searching for IEDs and explosives in Fallujah, Iraq at the height of the Iraq War.

He began his career in law enforcement in 2007 as a K9 handler with Willacoochee Police. His service to Atkinson County began in 2009 with the Atkinson Sheriff Office. He has held several potions with the SO including deputy, narcotics investigator, chief investigator. He was promoted to Cheif Deputy in 2017 where he works diligently to keep the day to day operations of the office running like clockwork.

Chief Knapik continues to serve the US NAVY as a reservist and holds the rank of First Class Petty Officer.