[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E712-E713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CARMEN BROCKS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, Fire Chief Carmen Brocks from Flora, 
Mississippi.
  A 1986 graduate of Provine High School, she furthered her education 
at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on a basketball 
scholarship and graduated in 1990. Throughout her young adult life, Ms. 
Brocks was very active in sports and was known as a kind, caring, 
friendly and compassionate individual. Not long after college, she 
decided to attend the Jackson Fire Academy to become a firefighter with 
much encouragement from her family. She also completed the course work 
with a B.S. Degree in Fire Administration at Columbia Southern 
University.
  In November 1993, Ms. Brocks began her career as a Firefighter I at 
the Jackson Fire Department and graduated as a Firefighter II in 1994.
  After 9 months, Ms. Brocks started climbing the ladder with the fire 
services, when she completed the requirements and successfully passed 
the exam to become a Relief Driver Operator. In 1998, she was promoted 
as the 1st female in the emergency services division to become 
Lieutenant under the leadership and supervision of, then, Captain 
Willie Owens. Ms. Brocks still kept striving in her professional career 
as the first female in the emergency services division to become 
Captain. In 2010, she became the first female District Chief, which she 
held for 8 years. In March of 2018, District Chief Brocks was appointed 
to Division Fire Chief of the Emergency Service Division under the 
leadership of Fire Chief Willie Owens.
  Chief Brocks has blazed the trail for any African-American female who 
may want to follow in her appointment as Division Fire Chief. That also 
goes for any female who may want to follow in her footsteps. Chief 
Brocks truly believes, ``to achieve anything, it requires faith, belief 
in yourself, vision, hard work, determination and dedication.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Fire 
Chief Carmen Brocks for her dedication to serving.

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