Give us a slice of your pre-shift routine.
My day starts with me spending time checking emails and the calendar to prepare for the day. I then try to make sure I get in a workout because that is the only time I am not distracted or needed by someone.
Beyond the physical demands common to all firefighters, what specific challenges or opportunities have you encountered as a woman in this profession, and how have you navigated them?
When I started recruit school, I saw I had entered a male-dominated profession. There were more than 100 recruits in my class and only about six of us were women. I learned quickly there were certain obstacles only women had to navigate in this profession – my male classmates had advantages I didn’t. They had connections and relationships with the department before they even started. I had to learn that women are built differently, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do the job.
Early in my career, I made a decision to be resilient and succeed, regardless of the challenges, disadvantages, or unfair practices I encountered. From learning to throw a ladder to studying for my first promotional exam, I took advice from the people around me who were trying to push me to be better. Between firefighter recruit and fire chief, I’ve held every rank in the department. When you score No. 1 on every promotional test, you promote really quickly. Each time, there was a lot of pressure from the people around me – I felt everyone wondered if I would be good enough at each rank, or if I could lead at the new level, with a whole new station and new responsibilities.
Every time a promotional test came up, I had a choice to move forward and grow or stay and be stagnant. I always received encouragement from my mentors, but I also had a commitment to myself to do better and work harder than anyone else in the room, because I had to.
What does ‘sisterhood’ or ‘allyship’ mean to you within the fire service, and how has the support of other women, or male allies, impacted your career and overall experience?
I love seeing sisterhood and allyship in the fire service today – it wasn’t always an “all boats rise” philosophy; it was often “I paid my dues, now you have to pay yours.” The earnest experience of helping each other succeed, offering tips on how to do tasks, and mutual support and encouragement is phenomenal.
I’ve had numerous mentors throughout my career, both men and women, all of whom have had an impact on my career trajectory. To me, sisterhood and allyship mean holding the door for the women coming behind us, returning the favor, mentoring others, and contributing to a fire service where all are welcome at the table.
What advancements or shifts within the fire service - whether in technology, training, or culture - do you believe are most beneficial for supporting and empowering women in the field, and what still needs to change?
The advancements in physical and mental health and wellness, as well as the culture surrounding it, have been revolutionary. I’ve seen incredible technology that improves the health of firefighters by reducing exposure to carcinogens, increased accessibility of rapid cancer screening technologies, every fitness machine, class, and regimen imaginable, and numerous mental health resources curated specifically for first responders. In my experience, all of these resources have been beneficial for women in the fire service.
For example, the cancer screening service in our department tests for markers of female-specific cancers, and the variety of workout equipment means there is truly something that works well for everyone.
The first step is the availability of the products and services, many of which I have worked to implement in my department. But the next step is changing the culture so these resources and seeking help is widely accepted.
What is a pivotal moment in your career where you felt particularly proud or challenged, and how did that moment shape you?
I remember the specific moment when I realized it was possible for me to become the fire chief. It was early in my career, and I was walking down the hall at a conference when I saw an African-American woman in a dress uniform. I saw from down the hall that she had five stripes on her sleeves, and I remember wondering who she was. I had never seen a female fire chief.
I caught up with her and her special assistant, and introduced myself to Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud – the first African-American female fire chief. Chief Cloud told me, “You will be a fire chief one day.” My initial thought was to laugh – I wasn’t even a lieutenant yet, and I was just trying to figure out where I belonged. This idea didn’t exist yet in Prince George’s County, and I hadn’t realized it could exist. This day still feels like it was yesterday, and I often think of this encouragement.
I now have the responsibility to empower and prepare the next generation of leaders in the fire service, including providing opportunities for mentorship, inspiration, and empowerment – especially for women.