Fire Service Women of Vision and Leadership

Julie Downey I am pleased to present my friend Fire Chief Julie Downey to you during this Woman's History Month because she is another fi re service history-maker. Julie began her fi re service career in 1981 in the City of Sunrise (FL) F i r e Re s c u e Department. That started a chain of fi rsts for her in Sunrise. She was their fi rst woman Department. That started a chain of fi rsts for her in Sunrise. She was their fi rst woman Julie Downey I am pleased to present my friend Fire Chief Julie Downey to you during this Woman's History Month because she is another fi re service history-maker. Julie began her fi re service career in 1981 in the City of Sunrise (FL) F i r e Re s c u e present my friend Fire Chief Julie Downey to you during this Women’s History Month because she is another fire service history-maker. Julie began her fire service career in 1981 in the City of Sunrise (Florida) Fire Rescue Department. That started a chain of firsts for her in Sunrise. She was their first

Fire fi ghter/Paramedic - fi rst woman Driver/Operator - and fi rst woman to become a Lieutenant. Julie retired from Sunrise Fire Rescue in 2004 to become the Battalion Chief of EMS and Training with the Town of Davie (FL) Fire Rescue Department. In 2005, Chief Downey promoted to Assistant Chief of EMS, Training, Special Operations, and Emergency Management for Davie Fire Rescue. And in 2016, Julie was promoted to the position of Fire Chief in Davie. This was another fi rst for her because she was not only the fi rst woman fi re chief in Broward County, but also the entire state of Florida south of Orlando. With Chief Downey, it's not only the ranks she achieved, it's also what her leadership, expertise, and teamwork led to in the way of outcomes. Following are just a few: 1) Created a Mass Casualty Response Plan in Sunrise that was later adopted throughout Florida; 2) Elevated Davie Fire Rescue from an ISO Fire fi ghter/Paramedic - fi rst woman Driver/Operator - and fi rst woman to become a Lieutenant. Julie retired from Sunrise Fire Rescue in 2004 to become the Battalion Chief of EMS and Training with the Town of Davie (FL) Fire Rescue Department. In 2005, Chief Downey promoted to Assistant Chief of EMS, Training, Special Operations, and Emergency Management for Davie Fire Rescue. And in 2016, Julie was promoted to the position of Fire Chief in Davie. This was another fi rst for her because she was not only the fi rst woman fi re chief in Broward County, but also the entire state of Florida south of Orlando. With Chief Downey, it's not only the ranks she achieved, it's also what her leadership, expertise, and teamwork led to in the way of outcomes. Following are just a few: 1) Created a Mass Casualty Response Plan in Sunrise that was later adopted throughout Florida; 2) Elevated Davie Fire Rescue from an ISO woman firefighter/paramedic, first woman driver/operator, and first woman to become a lieutenant. Julie retired from Sunrise Fire Rescue in 2004 to become the battalion chief of EMS and Training with the Town of Davie (Florida) Fire Rescue Department. In 2005, Julie was promoted to assistant chief of EMS, training, special operations, and emergency management for Davie Fire Rescue. In 2016, Julie was promoted to the position of fire chief in Davie. This was another first for her because she was not only the first woman fire chief in Broward County, but also the entire state of Florida south of Orlando. With Julie, it’s not only the ranks she achieved, it’s also what her leadership, expertise, and teamwork led to in the way of outcomes. Following are just a few: 1) Created a mass casualty response plan in Sunrise that was later adopted throughout Florida; 2) Elevated Davie Fire Rescue from an ISO 4 rating to an ISO 1 rating; 3) Spearheaded legislation requiring Stop the Bleed kits in all town facilities. This program was later recognized as a Pioneer Innovation by the White House National Security Council. 45

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