Tampa, FL. – Tampa Fire Chief Barbara Tripp has been recognized by the Leadership Tampa Alumni association with its prestigious Parke Wright III Award. The Tampa Bay Chamber’s LTA surprised Chief Tripp during its 2023 Annual Meeting today at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC.
In the audience with LTA members were colleagues and family members who stayed out-of-sight until the big moment. The Chief watched the video describing the winner for 42 seconds before realizing they were talking about her. In the video, her daughter in law suddenly appearing on screen saying, "Hi Ma!" The Chief's son, Greg Tripp, adding "She’s my role model! I can’t fully express just how proud I am!"
Tripp is Tampa Fire Rescue’s first female fire chief and one of only 13 Black, female fire chiefs in the nation. The Tampa native and military veteran began her career as a firefighter in 1997, after returning home from her tenure in the Navy. She has served in practically every aspect of the fire department, rising through the ranks as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Paramedic Field Training Officer, Lieutenant, Captain, Rescue Division Chief and interim fire chief. In 2021, she became the 22nd Fire Chief in the history of the department, after a rare, unanimous vote by the Tampa City Council.
Among the first things she did after being sworn in was schedule shifts to work in every firehouse. “She would be at the fire station until 10 o’clock at night working,” said La Mecha Tripp, her daughter-in-law. “The guys at the firehouse would come up to her and say, ‘Chief you still here?’ You need to go home and get some rest.’” State Attorney Suzy Lopez added “Her colleagues know she is one of them. She’s not going to ask them to do anything she wouldn’t do herself. She’s quite an amazing woman.”
An avid learner and strong education advocate, the Fire Academy at Hillsborough Community College was not her last stop in academia. Chief Tripp also earned degrees in Emergency Management from HCC, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Petersburg College. As a Registered Nurse, she served 14 years at Tampa General Hospital in the Emergency Room and in Ambulatory Services.
This award, named after Leadership Tampa founder Parke Wright III, is now in its 20th year. It is presented annually to an LTA member demonstrating exceptional leadership and making a significant difference in the region. Tripp is a graduate of Leadership Tampa’s Class of 2020. In a touching moment adding to the surprise, members of her leadership team at Tampa Fire & Rescue stepped inside the ballroom when her name was announced as the winner. Catching her first glimpse of them, the Fire Chief was visibly moved to tears and later joked from the stage "Y'all are sneaky!"
Hand delivering the award to her was none other than the son of the legendary Parke Wright III.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor described her as a leader whose generosity, community involvement and strength of character make her “highly deserving of receiving this prestigious recognition” and added “Fire Chief Barbara Tripp embodies strength of character engulfed in humility; steadfast leadership propelled by a deep appreciation for her East Tampa roots. Despite being the first female and first woman of color to be named Fire Chief, the legacy Chief Tripp strives for is one of honorable leadership provided by someone who happened to be a female of color.”
During today’s LTA Annual Meeting, sponsored by Baker Barrios and the University of Tampa, the association also recognized 2023 Chair Jeff Chernoff for his year of service and introduced LTA’s 2024 Cabinet to be led by Chair Wendy Ross, and Vice-Chair Grace Maseda-Sainz. To learn more about LTA and the Parke Wright III Award, visit the Tampa Bay Chamber website.
Click here to see 2023 Parke Wright III Award Video.
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