professional development, and diversity within the fire service, frequently mentoring women and men in leadership roles. In her honor, the IAFC established the “Chief Mary Beth Michos Scholarship” to support future fire service leaders. She was selected as the IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2003 and was awarded the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Mary Beth also received IAFC President’s Awards in 1997 and again in 2005 and is a recipient of the James O. Page EMS Leadership Award. If there were such a thing as the "Dean of Women Fire Chiefs," Mary Beth Michos would be a strong candidate. She was the first woman in the nation to serve as the fire chief in a large metro-size fire department, and in 2022, Chief Michos was identified by “FireRescue1” as one of the fifteen most influential fire service leaders of all time. Her positive leadership and progressive impact on the fire service, as well as her continuing support for both women and men in leadership positions, have been particularly impressive over the years. The IAFC FSEDI Program that she continues to lead attracts some of the best and brightest fire officers and future fire chief candidates in the fire service. In addition to her remarkable professional accomplishments, Mary Beth Michos is an incredibly good person and friend. It’s always nice when good things happen to good people, and although she’s dealt with her share of challenges, her career has been blessed with many good things. If you’ve had the opportunity to work with Mary Beth, or just spend time around her, then you are among the truly fortunate. She is greatly appreciated and cherished – Mary Beth is literally a fire service treasure! Thank you, my friend!
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