They look good in uniform!
Earlier this year, five Black women made history after being promoted to the rank of Fire Captain within the St. Louis Fire Department.
The newly appointed captains are Licole McKinney, Jessica Jackson, Pamela Saunders-Isaac, Elizabeth McCormick, and Cicely Tucker. The St. Louis American reports that it was the first time five Black women in the department rose to the rank of Fire Captain at the same time.
Their promotions also brought the total number of Black women fire captains in the department to six, joining veteran Fire Captain Carolyn Moore. The milestone came nearly four decades after women first joined the St. Louis Fire Department in 1987.
For the women, the moment was both historic and deeply personal. First Alert 4 reports that McCormick said the promotion showed that fire service roles are possible not only for women, but for Black women and others who look like her.
The journey was not without challenges. Jessica Jackson and Licole McKinney were among the firefighters who previously said they had been given acting captain titles without raises before a 2026 ruling allowed several officers to be formally recognized and promoted.
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Now, their promotions are helping shift what leadership looks like in the fire service.
Five Black women stepped into roles that historically were not built with them in mind, and in doing so, they made room for the next generation to see themselves there too.
Congratulations to Captains Licole McKinney, Jessica Jackson, Pamela Saunders-Isaac, Elizabeth McCormick, and Cicely Tucker!
