Cameron C. Secrist was born in Missoula, Montana in 1953. After graduating from High School in Tucson, Arizona, he attended Northern Arizona University (N.A.U.), graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Administration. Before attending Law School, Cameron worked as a Legislative Intern at the Arizona State Senate. He earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree at Southwestern School of Law in Los Angeles, California in 1980 and passed the Arizona State Bar exam in 1981 wherein he opened his private law practice in Flagstaff, Arizona. His private practice of 14 years in Flagstaff emphasized Personal Injury, Family Law, Criminal Defense and General Practice.