Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Lesbian Fire Chief Jarman of San Diego

Image: Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, San Diego. An Out and Proud Lesbian.

Who is heading up San Diego's municipal fire fighting force? It is run so well with the available resources, its no surprise that a lesbian chief is on the job. Because San Diego is a very large county,with smaller cities around the metropolis, coordination is key to the fire fight. Kudos, Chief Jarman.

About Chief Tracy Jarman:

(Source: San Diego Magazine)

"Prior to Jarman taking over, the department and the position came under heavy criticism due to its handling of San Diego County’s 2003 Cedar fire, the second largest wildfire in California’s history—and it became clear that new leadership and new ideas were needed. Longtime Chief Jeff Bowman resigned soon after the fire and recommended Jarman as his successor. She certainly had the credentials: She had served as assistant fire chief and interim fire chief following Bowman’s retirement. And in June 2006, she took over by unanimous selection. Of the 24 female fire chiefs in the United States, only Joanne Hays-White of San Francisco runs a department larger than Jarman’s.

She’s taking on all of these new responsibilities despite the fact that she had been planning to retire just a few years ago. But she changed her mind when Bowman announced his resignation. “When Chief Bowman made his decision, I rethought mine,” says Jarman. “This is a great organization, and they need the leadership. It was the right thing to do and the right time to step up.”


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