Founder
Chief Shelly L. Carter
Shelly L. Carter is the first Black female fire chief in New England
and currently the Assistant Fire Chief for the city of Hamden, Connecticut.
Carter has been the Operations and Training Manager/PIO for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection within the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, where she managed & coordinated emergency response on a 24/7 basis to events across the state and operated as the state's Multi-Agency Coordinator.
Chief Carter is retired as Captain from the City of Hartford, Connecticut, Fire Department, where she served for 21+ years and earned numerous certifications, such as numerous certifications, such as Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Service Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Hazmat Operational, National Incident Management Systems, Station Evaluator, Incident Safety Officer, National Fire Academy Leadership, Confined Space Training, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Vehicle Operations,
Pump Operations & Certified Fire Investigator & Code Enforcement Official.
Chief Carter is one of a small number of Black female officers in Connecticut, less than 2% of which are African American. Chief Carter is also the first African American female instructor hired at the Connecticut State Fire Academy and the first Black female Captain in Suppression for the Hartford Fire Department.
Chief Carter is the Connecticut State Representative for the International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services. She currently sits on the board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety and Survival Team. She is a member of the Capitol Region Fire Marshals Association, International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, Connecticut Instructors Association, CT Career Chiefs, and International Association of Fire Chiefs. She is also a certified trainer for Cultural Bridges to Justice in conjunction with the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research and “United in Service.”
Chief Carter has degrees in Journalism & Communication and Fire Administration, and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College. She is a graduate of the Dr. Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute, Dillard University. Currently,
Presently, Chief Carter is pursuing a Doctoral degree in
Critical Infrastructure in Emergency Management
from Capitol Technology University.
Shelly is the youngest daughter of Pastor Leona Wilson of Hartford, CT, and a member of Crown of Glory COGIC in Hartford, CT. She was the first Female Lieutenant and is the first Captain in the COGIC organization. Captain Carter is married to retired Firefighter Brainard “BC” Carter. Together, they have seven children and five grandchildren.
“You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.”
~Les Brown
“To God Be The Glory For The Things He Has Done!” –Shelly“To God Be The Glory For The Things He Has Done!”
~Shelly Carter
“CAVU”
“Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited”
~George H. W. Bush
Chief of Operations
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Chief Christina Burkert (retired)
Christina Burkert has been in the fire service for over 32 years as a career and a volunteer firefighter. She joined her town volunteer fire department in Newtown, CT at the age of 19. While in Newtown, she served with United Fire Company of Botsford, Newtown Hook & Ladder and Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue.
At 23, Chief Burkert was hired by the State of Connecticut as an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter for Bradley International Airport Fire Department, where she served for 20 years until her retirement. During her tenure at BDLFD, she was Vice President and then President of IAFF Local S-15 for 14 of her 20 years. While in Fire Instructor 2, Christina created the program “Adapting Structural Firefighting for Aircraft Emergency Response”. This program is aimed at educating municipal firefighters for the diverse conditions they may experience relating to aircraft structures, multi casualty patients, various fuels and airport support services for an aircraft incident in their town.
After her retirement, she joined the East Granby Volunteer Fire Department, where she concluded her time served as the Assistant Fire Chief. Additionally, Christina worked as the Deputy Emergency Management Director for the Town of East Granby and is also a medically trained ski patroller for the National Ski Patrol at Ski Sundown in New Hartford, CT. Although Chief Burkert has relocated to the Tennessee area, she remains fully committed to the GFFC. She works together with the GFFC team to ensure that the GFFC girls receive the best guidance possible.
