“The fire service is a calling; people get into it and never leave,” CFFD Chief of Operations Brent Scalise said in a news release. “Amy is the perfect example of that. She has a skill set that is not easily found in the fire service. Not only does she have an understanding of all aspects of emergency services, she’s also an attorney and a financial expert.”
A closer look
The Texas Fire Chiefs Association is a nonprofit that serves as the liaison between fire service leadership across the state and the Texas Legislature.
According to the release, each fire department across the state gets one vote to decide who wins the annual award.
Ramon is the first woman to receive this honor.
“I’m beyond thrilled with this recognition,” she said in a statement. “But mostly I’m grateful: for the frontline responders who save lives, the leaders who show up every day and give it their all, the commissioners who’ve made sure our crews have fair compensation and the best equipment, and the community that turns up for events and supports us every step along the way.”
Looking back
Ramon began her fire service career in 1990 as a volunteer firefighter with the CFFD and worked her way up to station officer, board member and assistant chief of EMS until she accepted the role of fire chief in mid-2014.
About five years later, she led the department through a transition from a volunteer fire department to one that has full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters on staff.
She continues to oversee a growing department today as the CFFD is working to add eight new fire stations over the next several years.
Ramon has a bachelor's degree in business management and a Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law. She works with Lone Star College locally to advance the fire science and EMS industries, serves as an instructor for the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy and is on the executive board of the Harris County Fire Chief's Association.
What they’re saying
See snippets from a few of the award nomination letters below:
- “Chief Ramon has led our organization through some of the roughest waters a chief executive will ever have to navigate. Regardless of the challenges from natural disasters, pandemics, staff, or politics, she is hands-down one of the best executives in the state and nation. She understands all facets of running a self-sustaining $100 million operation. Her business acumen is unparalleled, all while making time for pre-scheduled breakfasts at the first station’s kitchen table. As a direct result of her leadership, we have become a destination organization, attracting the best and brightest in a very challenging labor market.” -Mike Clements, assistant chief of administration
- “The commitment she has to the community is second to none. When you call 911, it can be one of the worst days of your life. Chief Ramon realizes that and wants to help ease the anxiety people feel. That’s why she is never complacent about training, equipment, or anything else that impacts the safety of the community.” -Nick Buonarosa, district chief of suppression
- “I wish I had time to name every hurricane, flood, and ice storm that she faced with ... the determination to take care of our personnel and the community at whatever the cost. She would not leave our command center until each event was over, using her own resources when needed to get food to our personnel, our stranded citizens, and even their pets.” -Courtney Chumley, district chief of EMS
