PRINCE FREDERICK — Fire Safety Inspector Shirley Millette has been nominated for the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s 2025 Civilian of the Year Award.
Millette works in the Southern Regional Office, which covers Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. She conducts building inspections to identify fire and life safety hazards, verifies compliance with state fire codes and provides education to property owners on prevention measures.
In 2025, Millette completed 1,361 inspections, the highest total among agency employees. She has exceeded 1,000 inspections each year for the past five years. The Office of the State Fire Marshal, part of the Maryland Department of State Police, oversees fire code enforcement and public safety programs statewide.
Millette retired from the federal fire service after 30 years but continued in public safety. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985, then worked at Naval Air Station Bermuda and advanced through the ranks at Naval District Washington in Patuxent River, St. Mary’s County. She reached the positions of lieutenant and captain.
“I was the first woman to have advanced within the ranks at Naval District Washington,” Millette said. “Luckily, women advancing is not even noteworthy these days, although the ranks are still outnumbered.”
She remains a licensed paramedic and volunteers with Calvert County and nearby jurisdictions. Millette also teaches CPR and advanced life support courses as a certified instructor. She lives in Calvert County with her husband and spends time with her four grandchildren. The couple enjoys traveling, camping and riding motorcycles.
Millette is one of five civilians nominated for the award. The recipient will be announced June 22 at the Maryland State Firefighters Convention in Ocean City.
The Southern Regional Office handles fire safety inspections and code enforcement for the three Southern Maryland counties. Inspectors in the region address hazards in residential, commercial and public buildings to reduce fire risks.
Millette said she feels honored by the nomination. “I do my work and get it done,” she said. “I’m looking to represent the South Region well.”
