[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E16-E17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MS. TONI WASHINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 8, 2019

  Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my constituents and 
the African American Fire Fighters Historical Society in recognizing 
the tenth anniversary of Ms. Toni Washington's appointment as the fire 
chief of Decatur, Georgia.
  On January 6, 2009, Chief Washington became the first African-
American and the first woman to serve as the City of Decatur's fire 
chief and emergency manager. As the fourth of six African-American 
women appointed as fire chief in the United States, Chief Washington is 
the only African-American woman who is actively leading a fire 
department.
  Chief Washington began her public safety career at the Georgia State 
Fire Marshal's Office and continued her career at a Metro Atlanta fire 
department where she was promoted up to the rank of Deputy Fire Chief. 
Prior to her career in public safety, Ms. Washington

[[Page E17]]

worked on Turner Home Entertainment's marketing and public relations 
team, on actress Jane Fonda's staff, and with the Cobb Microenterprise 
Council.
  Chief Washington earned an undergraduate degree in business 
administration with an emphasis on marketing and management from 
Savannah State University and continued her studies at National Louis 
University, where she earned a master's of science degree in managerial 
leadership. She maintains a commitment to professional development 
exemplified by her attendance of the Dr. Carl Holmes Executive 
Development Institute at Dillard University and the National Fire 
Academy, and her Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for 
Public Safety Excellence.
  In her limited spare time, Chief Washington is also active in 
numerous professional associations and community organizationi She is a 
proud member of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, 
International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, the 
Black Chief Officers Committee, the International Association of Fire 
Chiefs, the Georgia State Firefighters Association, and Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority, Inc. Ms. Washington also chairs the Georgia 
Firefighters Bum Foundation's board of directors, is a trustee of the 
iWomen board, and volunteers with the Decatur Career Academy Advisory's 
council and various mentoring programs.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I would also like to extend my warmest 
greetings and congratulations to Chief Washington's loving family--her 
husband Gregory; daughters--Tahj, Lark, and Lauryn; son-in-laws--Lyndon 
and Mark; and her grandsons--Little Lyndon and Logan. I commend Chief 
Washington on her 10th anniversary and thank her for serving the City 
of Decatur and contributing to the safety and well-being of our region 
and nation.

                          ____________________