The first in FNDY history.
Tonya Boyd a 21 year veteran of the FDNY as an EMT becomes the first black female Deputy Chief. Boyd a Fire Captain was promoted during the FDNY promotion ceremony.
Captain Boyd joined the FDNY 21 years ago as a way to make extra money while attending nursing school. As stated in an interview she never dreamed her career would reach such heights.
She was a captain of Station 39 in her home town of Brooklyn. And has been climbing the ranks since.
“I’m so excited and I am so blessed,” the EMS officer told the Daily News.
“After hearing about the promotion, I couldn’t believe it. I feel like I’ve knocked down a door and opened it for a lot of EMTs just starting on this job,” said Boyd. “African-American women will see someone who looks like them as a deputy chief and they will know more is possible — their careers won’t top out at paramedic or even lieutenant.”
Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro praised Boyd’s success and her efforts.
“Tonya is not only helping to raise the bar for our ability to provide pre-hospital care, she’s also demonstrating to young women of all backgrounds the incredible rewarding career they can achieve in the FDNY,” Nigro said.
Boyd is giving women from diverse backgrounds hope that anything is possible. And women can climb high ranks just like the their male colleagues.