LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Decker has been nominated for the 2025 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award as the Southern Region Office representative.
Decker was nominated by Deputy Chief John Nelson, commander of the Southern Region Office. She will join nominees from other regional offices and the Special Operations Section at the Maryland State Firefighters Association convention in Ocean City on June 22, where the statewide recipient will be announced.
A member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal since 2010, Decker serves as an investigator, K-9 handler, instructor, and public safety advocate. In 2025, she led 14 fire and explosive investigations, conducted 44 fire and life safety inspections, and completed two prisoner extraditions from Florida and West Virginia.
Decker and her accelerant-detection K-9 partner, Taylor, responded to 62 deployments across Maryland and surrounding jurisdictions in 2025. The team assists investigators in identifying ignitable liquids and determining fire origin and cause. Decker and Taylor graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Accelerant Detection Canine Program in 2024, making them one of a limited number of ATF-certified teams nationwide.
Deputy Chief Nelson highlighted Decker’s strong commitment to community engagement in his nomination letter. In 2025, she participated in 42 public education, community policing, and fire safety events across Southern Maryland and the state. Her outreach includes Shop With a Cop, No Hunger November, Touch-A-Truck events, school career days, fire department camps, and training programs. She regularly brings K-9 Taylor to schools and community events to support fire safety education.
Decker has also delivered presentations on fire investigation and accelerant-detection K-9 operations to criminal justice students, prosecutors, firefighters, and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.
“Melissa has a natural ability to connect with people,” Nelson said. “Whether at a fire scene, speaking with future professionals, or engaging with children in the community, she represents the Office of the State Fire Marshal with professionalism and authenticity.”
Nelson added that Decker’s “consistency, professionalism, and commitment to service reflect the very best of the agency.”
