I am a 1990 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture.
Following graduation, I spent my first two years at sea aboard CGC Northland, homeported out of Portmouth, VA, serving as the Student Engineer, Damage Control Assistant, and Assistant Engineer.
My next four years in the Coast Guard were spent at Marine Safety Office Houston/Galveston on the Houston Ship Channel.
There I served as Chief, Readiness and Reserve and then Chief, Waterfront Facilities. I was responsible for the inspections and emergency plans for all the petrochemical facilities along 50+ miles of ship channel.
Over the next 25 years, I worked a number of crisis planning jobs including as an Army Civilian in Puerto Rico, Fort Eustis in VA, and Corpus Christi, TX.
I received my Masters Degree in Project Management in 2010, and then served in Emergency Management for Fort Bend County, as EMC in the City of Missouri City, TX, and finally EMC for Fort Bend Independent School District.
My family and I moved here in late 2022 and I began working for the County as the EMC in December.
What first drew you to this line of work?
I’ve always been a planner, good at logistics, and a multi-tasker.
Those things allowed me to be successful at the Academy and definitely lend themselves to emergency management. I have the innate ability to recognize the options, weigh the risks, and remain calm during the chaos.
Giving up is not in my nature. I don’t know how much you know about the US Service Academies, but this year marks 50 years of women being admitted into the Service Academies.
I was definitely inspired by those women who came first and led the way. My class at the Coast Guard Academy admitted 270 members, 75 of which were women. Four years later, we graduated 151 officers only 15 of which were women.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced as a woman in your field, and how did you overcome it?
Emergency Management in general is seeing more women in leadership roles today then it did even five or ten years ago. Thankfully, I haven’t faced too many challenges as a function of my gender. Instead I have been judged on competence, professionalism, and the ability to get the job done.
How has being a woman shaped the way you approach your work?
I’m not actually sure that it does, or at least I don’t think about it that way. I have always been driven and focused; not afraid to take on the tough projects.
Perhaps being a woman makes me a bit more approachable. I see myself as a life-long learner. And I always strive to listen in order to understand, not just to respond.
Does your work impact the local community?
I certainly hope so! I’ve always considered the public education component critical to my role. I try to help people understand that everyone has a level of personal responsibility in an emergency.
The “Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Stay Informed” mantra is not just words. If every person can position themselves to be self-sufficient in those first hours of an emergency, County resources can concentrate on those most in need, and be better positioned to serve the whole community quickly.
CONCLUSION:
I am passionate about what I do, and a servant leader at heart. I believe that my skill set can help ensure Bandera is prepared for, ready to respond to, and capable of recovering from an emergency. It won’t be perfect, but with each challenge we face, we will make improvements and get better.
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