Braveboy announces new fire chief for Prince George’s County

By Alan Etter

Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy continued her overhaul of county leadership Monday, appointing a new county fire chief.

At a news conference Monday, Braveboy introduced Thelmetria “Meme” Michaelides as her pick to become the next chief of the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department.

Michaelides would be the second female fire chief in the county, taking over for Tiffany Green, who retires July 1 to become the assistant director of the county’s Office of Public Safety.

“I was a little shocked, to be honest with you,” Michaelides told WTOP, referring to her selection for the job. “But the county executive thought I was the best person for the job.”

Michaelides, who said she prefers her nickname “Meme,” started her career as a dispatcher in Prince George’s Fire and EMS in 1987. Over the next 26 years, she served as an EMT and paramedic, among other roles, and retired in 2013 as a battalion commander, Braveboy said.

During her time in the department, Michaelides became the first woman in the county to be a certified bomb technician and the second in the state — the firsr African American woman statewide.

“My journey to this moment as the next fire chief of Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department hasn’t been a traditional or linear path,” Michaelides said. “Every twist and turn along the way has, I believe, prepared me to serve.”

The new chief said she will do a full department assessment with her command staff in the coming days. She said she wants to focus on recruitment and retention, as well as improving communication between career and volunteer members.

The appointment is the latest in a string by Braveboy, who was just sworn in to office two weeks ago. Even before her June 19 swearing-in she had names a chief administrative officer, an interim schools superintendent, a new police chief and a new director of public safety.

Braveboy, who is filling out the remaining 18 months of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ term, said there is a “sense of urgency” in the county.

“I stepped up to the plate to fill an interim position, which means I have a short period of time to make the impact I promised the voters I would make,” she said Monday.

– As part of Maryland Matters’ content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Alan Etter. Click here for the WTOP News website.