EAST POINT, Ga. – Rosemary R. Cloud, who made history when she became the first African American female Fire Chief in the United States when she took over in suburban Atlanta, has announced her retirement after 30 years in the business.
Cloud, who was the East Point fire chief for 12 years, began three decades ago with Fire Department in the neighboring city of Atlanta. From there, Cloud began her rapid ascent up the ranks from firefighter to chief officer.
Her responsibilities have included managing up to 35 Fire Stations and 1,030 employees in the cities of Atlanta and
East Point. Her last assignment with the Atlanta Fire Department was as Assistant Chief of Fire Operations at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. From there she was hired as Fire Chief by the City of East Point on May 6, 2002.
Among her list of many accomplishments is having served on the White House National Security Council, where she was an Appointed Subject Matter Expert on HSPD-8, and recommended revisions to The National Strategy for Homeland Security. She was inducted into the inWEM International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2010. She has also been featured in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta and Black Enterprise Magazine, and has received a Hall of Fame honor for exemplary service to mankind. She is the recipient of several awards including the prestigious Millennium Pacesetter Award from the Atlanta Business League. In addition, during her tenure as Fire Chief, her name was added to the list of “Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence” by the Atlanta Business League.
Chief Cloud’s professional affiliations have included many, among them the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, South Eastern Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Women in Fire Service, Women Chief Fire Officers where she served as Vice President, the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters – Black Chief Officers Committee, and the National Fire Protection Association. She also was a member of the Leadership Atlanta class 2007.
She proudly leaves a legacy of developing and implementing more than 20 community service and safety programs during her illustrious tenure as fire chief of East Point.
“I want to emphasize that I will forever be grateful to The City of East Point, and the Fire Department for having given me the opportunity to be a part of such immense accomplishments and the endeavors we have had over the years,” stated the Fire Chief.
Chief Cloud will be presented a plaque and proclamation at the East Point City Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
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