PRINCE FREDERICK — Fire Safety Inspector Shirley Millette has been nominated for the 2025 Civilian of the Year Award by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Millette is stationed at the Southern Regional Office, which oversees fire safety in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. Her responsibilities include conducting inspections of buildings to identify potential fire and life safety hazards, ensuring compliance with state fire regulations, and educating property owners on prevention strategies.
In the year 2025, Millette completed an impressive total of 1,361 inspections, making her the top inspector among all agency staff. For the past five consecutive years, she has surpassed the milestone of 1,000 inspections annually. The Office of the State Fire Marshal, which operates under the Maryland Department of State Police, is responsible for enforcing fire codes and implementing public safety programs throughout the state.
Before her current role, Millette had a distinguished 30-year career in the federal fire service. She proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985 and continued her career at Naval Air Station Bermuda, eventually advancing within Naval District Washington based in Patuxent River, St. Mary’s County, where she achieved the ranks of lieutenant and captain.
“I was the first woman to advance through the ranks at Naval District Washington,” Millette shared. “Fortunately, the advancement of women is now more common, although they are still underrepresented in the ranks.”
Millette remains an active member of the community as a licensed paramedic, volunteering her services in Calvert County and surrounding areas. Additionally, she teaches CPR and advanced life support courses as a certified instructor. Residing in Calvert County with her husband, she enjoys quality time with her four grandchildren, as well as travel, camping, and motorcycling.
Among five civilians nominated for the award, the winner will be announced on June 22 during the Maryland State Firefighters Convention in Ocean City.
The Southern Regional Office is tasked with fire safety inspections and code enforcement across the three Southern Maryland counties. Inspectors in this area work diligently to address hazards in residential, commercial, and public buildings to mitigate fire risks.
Millette expressed her gratitude for the nomination, stating, “I do my work and get it done. I aim to represent the Southern Region well.”
