Fire Service Women of Vision and Leadership

Urna Semper Urna Semper

COURAGEOUS WOMEN WHO STEPPED FORWARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Each day, throughout the month of March 2021, I have featured on Facebook a total of 31 exceptional women in the fire and emergency services field in recognition of this 2021 Women’s History Month. My purpose was to commemorate, encourage, and celebrate the vital roles of these women in both the fire service and American history. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate not only those I profiled, but also the many thousands of women in the fire service that I didn’t individually feature. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates there were a combined 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States in 2018. Of this total number of firefighters, 370,000 (33%) were career firefighters and 745,000 (67%) were volunteer firefighters. Also, in 2018, a total of 93,700 of these firefighters were women (15,200 career and 78,500 volunteers). Data identifying the significant number of women who work in the fire service but in positions other than sworn members is not available. It’s important to note that fire service women have faced difficult challenges and obstacles along their way, and in some cases, still do. Bottom line, there is a great deal of work left to be done in recruiting, managing, and retaining women in fire departments and throughout the industry as a whole. The fire service is better for having women within our ranks and in various roles, and their leadership and representation is vital to our continued success and improvement. I really only had two reasons for doing this project. First, I believe that the history and levels of leadership provided by women in all aspects of the fire and emergency service community is substantial and deserves public recognition. Secondly, I hope young girls and women somehow gain access to these profiles, and as a result, become interested in pursuing the fire service as a career. The many responses I’ve received, and the hundreds of comments the women themselves have received, have been nothing short of amazing! 2

themselves have received, have been nothing short of amazing! The most common comment to me from both inside and outside of the fi re service is that people had no idea that women played such critical leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels of fi re and emergency services. It leads me to believe that fi re service leaders (men and women) need to do a much better job of communicating those facts. However, the feedback I’ve appreciated most has come from the featured women themselves. They sincerely enjoyed not only their own pro fi le, but those of their colleagues as well. I could not ask for more grati fi cation for my work. I’m glad this project was well received. It has been an honor for me to showcase these terri fi c leaders and role models for all to learn about. I wish all women who choose a career in any aspect of the fi re service community only the best. And Please Be SAFE! ImageI’m glad this project was well received. It has been an honor for me to showcase these terrific leaders and role models for all to learn about. I wish all women who choose a career in any aspect of the fire service community only the best. And please be SAFE! The most common comment to me from both inside and outside of the fire service is that people had no idea that women played such critical leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels of the fire and emergency service. It leads me to believe that fire service leaders (men and women) need to do a much better job of communicating those facts. However, the feedback I’ve appreciated most has come from the featured women themselves. They sincerely enjoyed not only their own profile, but those of their colleagues as well. I could not ask for more gratification for my work.

DENNIS COMPTON AUTHOR

Joanne R. Rund

Today, I am pleased to recognize another extremely successful woman from the fi re service during this 2021 Women’s’ History Month. Joanne R Rund became the Fire Chief in the Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department (BCoFD) in 2019. When she accepted this position, she became the fi rst permanently appointed woman Fire Chief in the history of the department. Baltimore County is a large combination fi re department with approximately two thousand sworn, volunteer, and civilian personnel who provide service from 25 career and 29 volunteer fi re companies. But Chief Rund’s story of leadership and exceptional contributions to fi re and emergency services began long before joining the BCoFD. Joanne started her career in 1993 as a volunteer EMS provider in Carroll County Maryland. This was followed a short time later by a move to the Howard County (MD) Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) where she served for 32 years. Joanne rose through the ranks of HCDFRS to lead several major areas of the organization including Operations, Administrative Services, and Education & Training. Chief Rund is a fi rm woman from the fire service during 2021 Women’s’ History Month. Fire Chief Joanne R. Rund became the fire chief of the Baltimore County (Maryland) Fire Department (BCoFD) in 2019. When she accepted this position, she became the first permanently appointed woman fire chief in the history of the department. Baltimore County is a large combination fire department with approximately 2,000 sworn, volunteer, and civilian personnel who provide service from 25 career and 29 volunteer fire companies. Chief Rund’s story of leadership and exceptional contributions to fire and emergency service began long before joining the BCoFD. Joanne started her career in 1993 as a volunteer EMS provider in Carroll County, Maryland. This was followed a short time later by a move to the Howard County (Maryland) Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) where she served for 32 years. Joanne rose through the ranks of HCDFRS to lead several major areas of the organization including operations, administrative services, and education & training. Chief Rund is a firm believer in creating a culture that is inclusive, healthy, safe, and values mutual respect and teamwork.

She not only has this vision for the other members of her department, but she sets the example herself every day in all she does. Joanne holds numerous certifications in the field of health and safety and is proud to be a Level 4 Certified Command Officer. She is also a certified instructor, which she achieved in 1993. Joanne holds the National Fire Academy’s Advanced Safety Officer Program certification and is an associate faculty member at the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI). She is active in the Maryland fire service and at the national level as well. I can tell you firsthand that it has been a godsend to have Joanne generously share her strong leadership, management, and interpersonal skills with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). Her involvement with the NFFF goes back years. In 2014, she was named the Region III Everyone Goes Home Advocate Coordinator and she remains committed as a leader and instructor dedicated to reducing firefighter line- of-duty deaths throughout the United States. Chief Rund is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) having served on many committees and positions – including that of director-at-large with the Safety, Health and Survival Section. In 2018, Joanne was selected to take part in the prestigious IAFC Fire Service Executive Development Institute Program. She is most often described by those closest to her as incredibly smart, an excellent leader, and one of the most kind and patient people you will ever know. I see her the same way but would add humble to that description. Fire Chief Joanne Rund has everything in the world to be proud of, and to top it off, she willingly and openly serves as a mentor to others who are at various points in their careers. The fire service is fortunate to have Chief Rund among us – and I am proud to profile my friend during this Women’s History Month for her outstanding leadership and contributions.

Patricia Mieszala

Patricia Mieszala took a path to the fi re service that actually became a second career – and I am going to pro fi le her unique contributions today in celebration of this 2021 Women’s History Month. For ten years (1971-1981), Pat was a Psychiatric Burn Nurse Clinician at the Cook County Hospital’s Sumner L. Koch Burn Center in Chicago, Illinois. It was during that time when Pat and I fi rst met and developed a friendship that has lasted to this day. She served on the American Burn Association (ABA) Board of Directors beginning in the late 1970’s and was instrumental in moving the organization’s leadership to include "prevention" as part of their mission. Pat Mieszala is internationally recognized for her work to reduce burn injuries and juvenile-related fi res through public awareness, education, and intervention programs – and she continues to o ff er her expertise in those areas and others. Throughout her more than forty-year fi re service career, she has remained passionate about improving methods to identify and treat youth who set fi res. As President and Founder of “Burn Concerns National Consulting and Educational Patricia Mieszala took a path to the fire service that actually became a second career – and I am going to profile her unique contributions today in celebration of this 2021 Women’s History Month. For ten years (1971-1981), Pat was a Psychiatric Burn Nurse Clinician at the Cook County Hospital’s Sumner L. Koch Burn Center in Chicago, Illinois. It was during that time when Pat and I first met and developed a friendship that has lasted to this day. She served on the American Burn Association (ABA) Board of Directors beginning in the late 1970s and was instrumental in moving the organization’s leadership to include prevention as part of their mission. Pat Mieszala is internationally recognized for her work to reduce burn injuries and juvenile-related fires through public awareness, education, and intervention programs – and she continues to offer her expertise in those areas and others. Throughout her more than forty-year career, she has remained passionate about improving methods to identify and treat youth who set fires. As president and founder of Burn Concerns National Consulting and Educational Services, she provides training to fire and life-safety educators to develop, improve, and evaluate their outreach and community education programs. 6

Pat is a recognized expert in bringing together coalitions of professionals in all fifty states and Canada who represent the fire service, mental health, law enforcement, burn unit staff, other medical staff, and the field of education to identify, treat, and intervene in the especially challenging area of juvenile fire setting. She has worked in concert with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), the National Fire Academy (NFA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and a host of other organizations to further the impact of her expertise and initiatives. Pat served on the NFPA Education Section Board for twenty years and was an NFPA public Education Advisor for thirty-two years – six of which were as a Lead Public Education Advisor. During her career, she has been instrumental in Learn Not to Burn, Risk Watch, Fire Prevention Week and many other NFPA-led endeavors and programs. Her leadership has benefited the fire service and public safety in so many ways, and her intellectual leadership is a treasure. Most recently, Pat has been involved on the steering committee for Vision 20/20’s National Strategy for Loss Prevention, as well as serving as a technical advisor for the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) curriculum content and education components. With all of this said, there can be no doubt why Pat Mieszala remains one of the principal leaders in the field of fire and life-safety education and possesses the technical expertise and institutional memory to continue to make the fire service more effective in these life- saving endeavors. Pat has been recognized for her work in many ways, including as the recipient of the 2009 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education at the national level. She is one of those people that brings so much to the table that if you are fortunate enough to have her involved in one of your programs or planning processes, you have secured one of the best possible participants available. Pat is not only smart as a whip, but she can lead or follow as necessary, understands processes, is a great facilitator, and knows how to get things done. I treasure her friendship...and it is truly an honor for me to recognize Pat Mieszala and her leadership and contributions to the fire service during this Women’s History Month. 7

honor for me to recognize Pat Mieszala and her leadership and contributions to the fi re service during this Women’s History Month. Comments from Readers of the March 2021 Women’s History Month Features that Highlighted Women from the Fire and Emergency Services “I’m glad the glass ceiling has been shattered! All of the women featured were great and there are many others doing great things for the fi re service.” “Looked forward to each day’s feature. Hearts are encouraged with so much good happening in the transforming fi re service.” I have gained new appreciation for the roles that women play in the fi re service. “We males often fail to recognize the leadership provided by women in the fi re service. The features this month shined a spotlight on women that have led and continue to lead this nation’s fi re service – both paid and volunteer.”

Angela Hughes

Angie Hughes (Angela) began her fi re service career with her local volunteer fi re department while she was still in high school. During the time that she was completing her EMT class, Angie witnessed and rendered aid at the scene of the Chase Amtrak Accident that occurred in 1987 in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. The tragedy left sixteen people dead, and many others injured. For her heroic actions as a volunteer who just happened to be fi rst on the scene that day, she was later awarded Congressional recognition – as well as receiving an invitation to visit the White House. That was one heck of a start to any fi re service career, and she didn’t look back. I’ve chosen to highlight her career today as part of this 2021 Women’s History Month. Angie began her paid career as a Paramedic with the Baltimore City (MD) Fire Department in 1989. After serving three years in that position, she was hired as a Paramedic and Fire fi ghter in the Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department in 1992. Angie promoted to Lieutenant in 2012, and then to the rank of Captain in 2015. In addition to her many years of service in fi re stations, she also gained Angela “Angie” Hughes began her fire service career with her local volunteer fire department while she was still in high school. During the time that she was completing her EMT class, Angie witnessed and rendered aid at the scene of the Chase Amtrak Accident that occurred in 1987 in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. The tragedy left sixteen people dead and many others injured. For her heroic actions as a volunteer who just happened to be first on the scene that day, she was later awarded congressional recognition – as well as receiving an invitation to visit the White House. That was one heck of a start to any fire service career, and she didn’t look back. I’ve chosen to highlight her career today as part of this 2021 Women’s History Month. Angie began her paid career as a paramedic with the Baltimore City (Maryland) Fire Department in 1989. After serving three years in that position, she was hired as a paramedic and firefighter in the Baltimore County (Maryland) Fire Department in 1992. Angie promoted to a lieutenant in 2012, and then to captain in 2015. In addition to her many years of service in fire stations, she also gained experience as a fire marshal in fire prevention. But Angie did some other things in her career that have been of 9

significant benefit to women firefighters throughout Maryland and the country. More accurately, probably of benefit to all firefighters – men and women. It began when she co-founded Baltimore County Women in the Fire Service. Guided by Angie’s leadership and efforts, this group became an effective tool for supporting and coaching women as they entered the fire service and progressed through their careers. Angie later became increasingly involved as a leader in the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services (iWomen). Her years of involvement with iWomen, and the strong leadership abilities she brought to whatever role she sought and accepted, made Captain Angela Hughes well suited to become the President of iWomen in 2015. This provided Angie with an international platform to work from in her unyielding efforts to recruit women into the fire and emergency service, and just as importantly, remove obstacles and help them succeed. In this role, she elevated not only the organization but was an advocate for women in all things related to their fire service careers. Captain Hughes was, for years, a featured speaker at conferences, authored a wide range of articles relating to women and the challenges they face, and served on many committees within the fire and emergency service community. One of her greatest opportunities was being invited to deliver the keynote address at the 2017 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her message was excellent and resonated loud and clear through the thousands of fire service members (mostly men) who were in the audience that day. Angie retired from the Baltimore County Fire Department in 2019, the same year that her term as President of iWomen was completed. It would be difficult to know Angie as a friend and colleague and not want to brag about her selfless leadership and contributions to women in the fire service. So, I am thrilled to do just that today. She is an exceptional person with a deep love for her family. It is an honor to recognize the personal and professional accomplishments of Fire Captain Angela Hughes during this Women’s History Month!

exceptional person with a deep love for her family. It is an honor to recognize the personal and professional accomplishments of Fire Captain Angela Hughes during this Women’s History Month! Comments from Readers of the March 2021 Women’s History Month Features that Highlighted Women from the Fire and Emergency Services “I hope these features land in a place where young girls will see them as well as the general public.” “Hopefully, young women who see these features will be inspired to become active members of the fi re service family.” “Each day’s feature was a great read. I was fortunate to know a handful of them and all are great women. With a wife and two daughters, it is important that everyone is aware of amazing women everywhere, in all walks of life, including fi re fi ghters.” “I hope there is a website or repository for all of these features. That way, people will have an opportunity to see them as a historical marker going forward.”

Pam Powell Let’s go back in time to capture the initial, and then ongoing work of the fi re service woman I am pro fi ling today during this 2021 Women’s History Month. We’re going to October of 1974 when the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA) was established. Pam Powell (Pamela) was an early pioneer of fi re prevention public education at the national level – working as a sta ff member at the NFPCA. Within local level fi re departments and the state level fi re marshal o ffi ces, it would be an understatement to say that public fi re prevention education was largely a well-kept secret and existed essentially in isolation – if at all. Beginning in 1974, to boost and support the local and state public educators that were in existence at the time, Pam was instrumental in delivering national fi re safety education conferences in an e ff ort to build a network of fi re safety educators from states and local jurisdictions. This was occurring on the heels of the groundbreaking 1973 National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control Report titled “America Burning”. In the Appendix of “America Burning” was a minority report written by Dr. Anne W. Phillips that challenged what she thought was the minimal level of attention given to prevention and education in the main body of the Report itself. One of the critical accomplishments of Pam Powell while at the NFPCA was bringing Dr. Phillips’ minority report to reality. The fi re prevention and education Let’s go back in time to capture the initial, and then ongoing work, of the fire service woman I am profiling today during this 2021 Women’s History Month. We’re going to October of 1974 when the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA) was established. Pamela “Pam” Powell was an early pioneer of fire prevention public education at the national level – working as a staff member at the NFPCA. Within local level fire departments and the state-level fire marshal offices, it would be an understatement to say that public fire prevention education was largely a well-kept secret and existed essentially in isolation – if at all. Beginning in 1974, to boost and support the local and state public educators that were in existence at the time, Pam was instrumental in delivering national fire safety education conferences in an effort to build a network of fire safety educators from states and local jurisdictions. This was occurring on the heels of the groundbreaking 1973 National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control Report titled America Burning. In the Appendix of America Burning was a minority report written by Dr. Anne W. Phillips that challenged what she thought was the minimal level of attention given to prevention and education in the main body of the report itself. One of the critical accomplishments of Pam Powell while at the NFPCA was bringing Dr. Phillips’ minority report to reality. The fire prevention and education conferences Pam led became a model for states body of the Report itself. One of the critical accomplishments of Pam Powell while at the NFPCA was bringing Dr. Phillips’ minority report to reality. The fi re prevention and education

to follow when creating their own conferences. Her work was guided by Dr. Anne Phillips’ vision of fire prevention and public education as critical and equal parts of managing community risk. As part of the legacy Pam has left, it is important to mention that more than 45 years later, state fire and life-safety education conferences continue to occur throughout the nation. In 1977, Pam produced the hallmark fire prevention education document titled, “Public Fire Education Planning: A Five-Step Process.” As the NFPCA later became the United States Fire Administration (USFA), Pam’s collaborative efforts continued to improve the fire and life-safety profile of the nation as a whole. After leaving the USFA, she divided her career between fire and life-safety education, technical writing, and editorial management. Pam was the editor of the first fire and life-safety education section of the “Fire Protection Handbook”, and she was the first Executive Director of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “Learn Not to Burn Foundation.” Pam later authored the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) book titled, Fire and Life Safety Educator, 2nd Edition – and she is a nationally certified fire and life-safety educator. It’s only fitting that Pam Powell was the 2015 recipient of the national Dr. Anne Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education presented by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and IFSTA. If the fire service had a superman-style Clark Kent, who was instead a woman, I think she would be named Pam Powell. Pam is a quiet and mild-mannered leader, educator, writer, and collaborator who flies (albeit on airplanes) to places where she can utilize her superhero powers to protect the lives of others in any way she can. Although mostly retired, Pam continues to lend her leadership, knowledge, and skills to the causes she is closest to. Pam is a good friend whom I have worked with many times over the years. I admire Pam Powell, so it is truly an honor for me to profile this incredible woman of the fire service during Women’s History Month.

Dr. Sara Jahnke / Dr. Denise Smith

Fire service-related research has been a major area of focus and has gained momentum - especially in the past decade or so. Today, I’m going to highlight two of the several incredible women gained momentum - especially in the past decade or so. Today, I’m going to highlight two incredible women who have made

who have made signi fi cant contributions to the health, safety, and well-being of fi re fi ghters through research. A couple of the reasons I have chosen Dr. Sara Jahnke and Dr. Denise Smith to pro fi le during this 2021 Women’s History Month, is that I have worked with both of them in various capacities, with multiple organizations, and on several dierent issues. Both of these outstanding professionals are also past recipients of the prestigious Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research presented by the International Fire Service Training Association – Fire Protection Publications – and Oklahoma State University. They significant contributions to the health, safety, and well-being of firefighters through research. A couple of the reasons I have chosen Dr. Sara Jahnke and Dr. Denise Smith to profile during this 2021 Women’s History Month, is that I have worked with both of them in various capacities, with multiple organizations, and on several different issues. Both of these outstanding professionals are also past recipients of the prestigious Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research presented by the International Fire Service Oklahoma State University.

They also have been published many times in the International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management (IFSJLM). DR. DENISE SMITH is Professor of Exercise Science at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, and a Research Scientist at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Exercise Physiology from the University of Illinois. Much of her fire service-related research has focused on physiological effects of firefighting, particularly the cardiovascular strain associated with the combination of heavy physical work, heat stress, and the psychological stress that firefighters routinely encounter. Her more recent work has paid particular attention to the role of firefighting in altering blood clotting potential because this may be the mechanism by which firefighting triggers sudden cardiac events. DR. SARA JAHNKE comes from a fire service family. Her father, Fire Chief Bill Jahnke, is retired from the Overland Park (Kansas) Fire Department. Sara is the Director of the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research at the National Development and Research Institute – a nonprofit research firm. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology with a Health Emphasis at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and the American Heart Association’s Fellowship on Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Sara is recognized as an expert in Health Behavior Research, Qualitative Methodology, and Epidemiology. Some of her more recent fire service-related work has focused on the evaluation of several national programs such as “Stress First Aid” intervention, “The First Twenty” wellness program, and the ongoing study of the health of women firefighters. Both Denise and Sara have been connected to the issues of firefighter behavioral health and occupational cancer. Like a lot of research, much of their fire service-related work would not have been possible without grant funding – including the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program under Research and Development. Let me try to capsulize some of the critical importance of their work in a very straightforward way.

Common causes of fi re fi ghter on-duty and line-of-duty deaths include heart attacks and occupational cancer. The work of Denise and Sara (and others) focuses on reducing the risk to fi re fi ghters by minimizing the impact of these factors on the safety, wellness, and the survival of fi re fi ghters. Better Personal Protective Equipment, improved deployment models, better medical monitoring, enhanced training, and more informed decision-making on the part of fi re o cers and incident commanders are but some of the direct bene fi ts of their research and fi ndings. The research they have already done, and will continue to conduct in the future, is making the fi re service smarter, safer, and more capable of leading and managing the challenges we face - sometimes whether we like it or not! I truly value my friendships with these two incredibly talented fi re service women, and I’ve learned so much from them. I’m proud to recognize them both during Women’s History Month for their leadership, the e ort they put forth, the value of their work, and their commitment to guiding all of us. Comments from Readers of the March 2021 Women’s History Month Features that Highlighted Women from the Fire and Emergency Services “This series of features was a very enlightening portrayal of some of the women who have made such a remarkable accounting of themselves in what was once considered to be only a “man’s world”. Proud to have known and worked with many of them and so many more who have given so much of themselves in the interest of a safer America.” Common causes of firefighter on-duty and line-of-duty deaths firefighters by minimizing the impact of these factors on the safety, wellness, and the survival of firefighters. Better personal protective equipment, improved deployment models, better medical monitoring, enhanced training, and more informed decision-making on the part of fire officers and incident commanders are but some of the direct benefits of their research and findings. The research they have already done, and will continue to conduct, is making the fire service smarter, safer, and more capable of leading and managing the challenges we face - sometimes whether we like it or not! I truly value my friendships with these two incredibly talented fire service women, and I’ve learned so much from them. I’m proud to recognize them both during Women’s History Month for their leadership, the effort they put forth, the value of their work, and their commitment to guiding us all.

Rosemary Cloud

Making history, and being fi rst, seems to be a consistent theme that runs through the pro fi les of the incredible fi re service women I’ve been highlighting during this 2021 Women’s History Month. And retired Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud is no exception. Rosemary began her fi re service career in 1980 as a fi re fi ghter in the Atlanta (GA) Fire Rescue Department (AFRD). Atlanta was her hometown, and she was proud to be in a position to protect the city she loved. Rosemary advanced through the ranks of the AFRD to the positions of Driver, Lieutenant, Battalion Chief, and fi nally, to Assistant Chief of Operations at the Harts fi eld-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Atlanta airport is one of the largest and busiest in the world, and she met the challenge head-on. As she grew and developed in Atlanta, her mentors, and others with in fl uence in the organization, observed her excellent leadership and management capabilities, as well as her Making history, and being first, seems to be a consistent theme that runs through the profiles of the incredible fire service women I’ve been highlighting during this 2021 Women’s History Month. Retired Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud is no exception. Rosemary began her fire service career in 1980 as a firefighter in the Atlanta (Georgia) Fire Rescue Department (AFRD). Atlanta was her hometown, and she was proud to be in a position to protect the city she loved. Rosemary advanced through the ranks of the AFRD to the positions of driver, lieutenant, battalion chief, and finally, to assistant chief of operations at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Atlanta airport is one of the largest and busiest in the world, and she met the challenge head-on. As she grew and developed in Atlanta, her mentors, and others with influence in the organization, observed her excellent leadership and management capabilities, as well as her exceptional people

skills, and encouraged her to consider becoming a fire chief at some point in her career. The opportunity presented itself, and in 2002, Assistant Chief Rosemary Cloud became the fire chief in the City of East Point, Georgia. Rosemary was East Point’s first woman fire chief and is widely heralded as the first Black woman fire chief in the nation. Her contributions to fire and life safety were not limited to the cities where she served. Rosemary was an active member of the community and a leader at the state and national levels as well. In addition to many other achievements, awards, and commendations, Chief Cloud was appointed to the White House National Security Council and was a subject matter expert in developing the National Strategy for Homeland Security. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame. Rosemary was recognized by the Atlanta Business League with the Millennium Pacesetter Award – and the Atlanta Business League also celebrated her as one of Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence. These recognitions paint a picture of a leader who was not only recognized for her expertise in the fire and emergency service, but also for her commitment to involving her department in the community as a whole…and in doing so, she personally set the example she expected her members to follow. In 2019, the City of East Point opened a new multipurpose fire station and training facility. It was named and dedicated in honor of former Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud, who had retired in 2015. One of the things that has impressed me the most about Rosemary Cloud has been the number of fire service women who openly credit her for the mentorship, coaching, and support she provided to them as they pursued their own careers. She not only fought and worked her way to a successful fire service career of her own, but she helped countless others who either worked with her or knew her in some other way. Achieving excellence and inspiring others to be the best they can be are critical elements of leadership. I am honored to profile retired Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud during this Woman’s History Month as a fire service woman of great accomplishment and influence!

am honored to pro fi le retired Fire Chief Rosemary Cloud during this Woman's History Month as a fi re service woman of great accomplishment and in fl uence! Mary Beth Michos

March is Women’s History Month and today I introduce Mary Beth Michos. This world class person has spent her lifetime in service to others. Having started her career as a Registered Nurse in a hospital, she went on to work on one of the nation’s fi rst Mobile Intensive Care Units in Montgomery County Maryland. It wasn’t long until Mary Beth joined the Montgomery County (MD) Fire Michos. This world-class woman as a registered nurse in a hospital, she went on to work on one of the nation’s first mobile intensive care units in Montgomery County, Maryland. It wasn’t long until Mary Beth joined the Montgomery

& Rescue Department as their EMS O ffi cer - and later transitioned to a sworn Fire fi ghter position. Long story short...Mary Beth promoted through the ranks to become Assistant Fire Chief in Montgomery County - and later became the FIre Chief in the Prince William County Fire Department. Her leadership skills and management expertise resulted in Mary Beth’s involvement at the highest levels in several National Fire Service Organizations. With the burning desire to assist others in their careers, Chief Michos, with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, established a leadership and management development program directed at creating future Fire Chiefs. Even in her retirement, Mary Beth Michos remains a role model and is one of the most recognized and respected Chiefs ever to work in the Fire Service! I think we’re all better professionals, and the nation a safer place to live, work, and play, because of the work of Chief Mary Beth Michos! County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue Department as their EMS Officer - and later transitioned to a sworn firefighter position. Long story short...Mary Beth promoted through the ranks to become assistant fire chief in Montgomery County - and later became the fire chief in the Prince William County (Virginia) Fire Department. Her leadership skills and management expertise resulted in Mary Beth’s involvement at the highest levels in several national fire service organizations. With the burning desire to assist others in their careers, Mary Beth, with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, established a leadership and management development program directed at creating future fire chiefs. Even in her retirement, Mary Beth Michos remains a role model and is one of the most recognized and respected chiefs ever to work in the fire service! I think we’re all better professionals, and the nation a safer place to live, work, and play, because of the work of Chief Mary Beth Michos!

Vickie Pritchett For nearly a quarter century, Vickie Pritchett has been an advocate and leader in the fi re service. Her work serves as another example of all that should be celebrated during this Vickie Pritchett For nearly a quarter century, Vickie Pritchett has been an advocate and leader in the fi re service. Her work serves as another example of all that should be celebrated during this

2021 Women’s History Month. Like so many others, her fi re service career began at the local level and has steadily expanded to become national in scope. In 1997, she became involved with the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department (PVVFD) in Tennessee – and from 1998 until 2013 Vickie served on their Board of Directors. However, she also served as the Community Development Liaison for the Town of Pleasant View and the Executive Director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Cheatham County (TN) at the same time she got involved with the PVVFD. The connection of Vickie and the PVVFD was tailor made for doing some really good things for the fi re and life safety pro fi le of the community. Her ability to bring fi re department o ffi cials, builders and developers, as well as elected o ffi cials together resulted in a zero square foot fi re sprinkler ordinance for the town in 2001 – and for the entire county in 2006. So, from then For nearly a quarter century, Vickie Pritchett has been an advocate and leader in the fire service. Her work serves as another example of all that should be celebrated during this 2021 Women’s History Month. Like so many others, her fire service career began at the local level and has steadily expanded to become national in scope. In 1997, she became involved with the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department (PVVFD) in Tennessee – and from 1998 until 2013 Vickie served on their board of directors. She also served as the Community Development Liaison for the Town of Pleasant View and the Executive Director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Cheatham County (Tennessee) at the same time she got involved with the PVVFD. The connection of Vickie and the PVVFD was tailor-made for doing some really good things for the fire and life-safety profile of the community. Her ability to bring fire department officials, builders and developers, as well as elected officials together resulted in a zero square foot fire sprinkler ordinance for the town in 2001 and for the entire county in 2006. 2021 Women’s History Month. Like so many others, her fi re service career began at the local level and has steadily expanded to become national in scope. In 1997, she became involved with the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department (PVVFD) in Tennessee – and from 1998 until 2013 Vickie served on their Board of Directors. However, she also served as the Community Development Liaison for the Town of Pleasant View and the Executive Director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Cheatham County (TN) at the same time she got involved with the PVVFD. The connection of Vickie and the PVVFD was tailor made for doing some really good things for the fi re and life safety pro fi le of the community. Her ability to bring fi re department o ffi cials, builders and developers, as well as elected o ffi cials together resulted in a zero square foot fi re sprinkler ordinance for the town in 2001 – and for the entire county in 2006. So, from then

So, from then forward, if you built a structure in Pleasant View or anywhere else in Cheatham County, it was equipped with fire sprinklers. Imagine the long-term impact of that achievement on the safety of the people who live there and the firefighters who protect them. It was the success she had in Tennessee that catapulted her to national fire service prominence as an enthusiastic and talented advocate for fire sprinkler requirements at the local, state, and national levels. Vickie Pritchett is currently the vice president/executive officer of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA). She is a collaborator of the highest order, and her involvement in other fire service organizations has made each one more effective in their mission. Vickie shares her talents with the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); is a board member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC); is the catalyst behind “Common Voices” – a small advocacy group that supports national legislation and policies relating to fire sprinklers in Washington (District of Columbia) and other venues; is a member of both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC); and works closely with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) on a host of fire safety issues and projects. Vickie is an outstanding presenter and public speaker, and if you’re attending anything where she is the facilitator, plan to be involved and enjoy your time with her. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and received her MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management. To top it all off, in 2013, Vickie was awarded lifetime membership in the PVVFD which she is quite proud of. Sher and I have come to treasure our friendship with Vickie. Her positive approach to life and work, love for her beautiful family, and dedication to the safety of others is contagious and an asset to any organization. I am thrilled to honor this fire service “spark plug” and leader during Women’s History Month. You can’t help but admire and love Vickie Pritchett!

Brenda Berkman

It would not make sense for me to write about the leadership, courage, and contributions of fi re service women during this 2021 Women’s History Month without honoring Retired Captain Brenda Berkman from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Her story begins before she even started her fi re service career. Prior to 1977, women were not allowed to apply to become FDNY fi re fi ghters. However, in 1977 that changed courage, and contributions of fire service women during this 2021 Women’s History Month without honoring Retired Captain Brenda Berkman from the Fire Department, City of New York (FDNY). Her story begins before she even started her fire service career. Prior to 1977, women were not allowed to apply to become FDNY firefighters. However, in 1977 that changed when

federal law required the FDNY to allow women to apply to take the firefighter entrance exam. At that time, even though Brenda Berkman was in her final year of law school, she decided to take the test. She was among 89 women to take that exam, and they all failed. Brenda filed a class action lawsuit against New York City, and in 1982, federal law required the city to make changes to the physical abilities portion of the exam. That same year, approximately 40 women passed the reconstructed firefighter entrance exam and entered the FDNY Fire Academy. Brenda, as well as those classmates who had successfully finished the academy, became the first women firefighters in FDNY history. That also caused changes to firefighter physical ability testing throughout the country. I first met Brenda between the time her lawsuit was filed and when the court decision was rendered. Of course, we’ve run into each other and visited many times since. Her commitment and tenacity to being a firefighter was palpable and inspiring from the first time we met. She was also quite informed about firefighter entrance testing, and helpful to anyone who asked for her guidance. I was responsible for firefighter testing and selection in the Phoenix (Arizona) Fire Department during that time, and between 1979 and 1980, we made significant changes to our hiring process including the physical abilities portion. I find Brenda’s FDNY career just as interesting as how she got there in the first place. She is very well educated having earned a B.A. degree from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, an M.A. in history from the University of Indiana, her J.D. from New York University Law School, and an M.S. in fire protection management from City University in New York. Brenda served on the FDNY for 25 years and retired in 2006 at the rank of Captain. Throughout her career, and even afterward, Brenda was active in firefighter recruitment and pre-training programs for candidates. She was a founding member and former president of the United Women Firefighters and served as a trustee of the Women in Fire Service for nine years. Brenda has received a number of significant and prestigious awards, but none more so than the

number of signi fi cant and prestigious awards, but none more so than the 1984 Susan B. Anthony Award and the 2002 Women of Courage Award, both from the National Organization for Women. She was also featured in the PBS program ‘ Sex, Power, and the Workplace ” in 1992; the o - Broadway play “ Firework ” in 2002; and the PBS documentary “ Taking the Heat ” in 2006. Her success, even before her career began, touched so many other women in signi fi cant ways. And Captain Brenda Berkman’s accomplishments on the job and o set an example for others – both men and women. Her impact in New York and across the country ensure her place in fi re service history and elevate her level of recognition during Women’s History Month. She was, and still is, amazing! 1984 Susan B. Anthony Award and the 2002 Women of Courage Award, both from the National Organization for Women. She was also featured in the PBS program Sex, Power, and the Workplace in 1992; the off-Broadway play Firework in 2002; and the PBS documentary Taking the Heat in 2006. Her success, even before her career began, touched so many other women in significant ways and Captain Brenda Berkman’s accomplishments on the job and off set an example for others – both men and women. Her impact in New York and across the country ensure her place in fire service history and elevate her level of recognition during Women’s History Month. She was, and still is, amazing! Comments from Readers of the March 2021 Women’s History Month Features that Highlighted Women from the Fire and Emergency Services “These features were magni fi cent. It is great to see the women being publicly recognized and wonderful to see their accomplishments – what an opportunity to learn.”

Nancy Northcutt Trench I fi rst met Nancy Northcutt Trench in 1978 and was taken by the drive and tenacity she displayed even back then – both verbally and non-verbally. We had lunch together in Stillwater, Oklahoma and she ordered a salad for me that looked like it came straight o ff of a cactus - it was simply strange. I guess she was just trying to make this “Arizona Boy” feel at home or something? That day was the start of what became a long and much cherished friendship between the two of us, and later, our families. It is such an honor for me to recognize Nancy’s leadership and contributions to the fi re service as part of this I first met Nancy Northcutt Trench in 1978 and was taken by the drive and tenacity she displayed even back then – both verbally and non-verbally. We had lunch together in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and she ordered a salad for me that looked like it came straight off a cactus; it was strange. I guess she was just trying to make this “Arizona boy” feel at home or something? That day was the start of what became a long and much cherished friendship between the two of us, and later, our families. It is such an honor for me to recognize Nancy’s leadership and contributions to the fire service as part of this Woman’s History Month. When we met, Nancy was the new (and quite young) Director of Oklahoma Fire Service Training based at Oklahoma State University (OSU). I’m sure it’s not difficult for you to imagine the challenges she faced being in charge of training in the 1970s in the all-male Oklahoma fire service. She became successful and went on to share her talents and leadership abilities as a member of the National Association of State Directors of Fire Training and Education (NASDFTE), where she served terms as vice chair and secretary/ treasurer. That organization later became the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD) in 1998. Woman’s History Month. When we met, Nancy was the new (and quite young) Director of Oklahoma Fire Service Training based at Oklahoma State University (OSU). I’m sure it’s not di ffi cult for you to imagine the challenges she faced being in charge of training in the 1970’s in the all-male Oklahoma Fire Service. She became successful and went on to share her talents and leadership abilities as a member of the National Association of State Directors of Fire Training and Education (NASDFTE), where she served terms as Vice Chair and Woman’s History Month. When we met, Nancy was the new (and quite young) Director of Oklahoma Fire Service Training based at Oklahoma State University (OSU). I’m sure it’s not di ffi cult for you to imagine the challenges she faced being in charge of training in the 1970’s in the all-male Oklahoma Fire Service. She became successful and went on to share her talents and leadership abilities as a member of the National Association of State Directors of Fire Training and Education (NASDFTE), where she served terms as Vice Chair and she was just trying to make this “Arizona Boy” feel at home or something? That day was the start of what became a long and much cherished friendship between the two of us, and later, our families. It is such an honor for me to recognize Nancy’s leadership and contributions to the fi re service as part of this

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