Nominated by the Arlington County Fire Department
Judith Brewer made history in 1974 when, at age 25, she was hired as the first female career firefighter in the nation, breaking the glass ceiling to join the Arlington County Fire Department at Firehouse Number 4 in Clarendon.
Her appointment to the position caused a social and political stir within the male-dominated profession, but Brewer overcame these obstacles to pave the way for future female firefighters; the next female firefighter would join Brewer’s brigade six years later.
Brewer was initially trained as a nurse and taught emergency treatment courses prior to joining the Fire Department. She eventually rose in the ranks to become battalion chief in 1990, where she managed six firehouses in the County. Brewer retired from the Fire Department in 1995, and her legacy lives on as a trailblazer for women everywhere.