First Woman Elected Volunteer Fire Chief In Montgomery County

BETHESDA, MD — The Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department officially swore in its new fire chief, Corrine Piccardi, who is the department's first new fire chief in 26 years and the first female volunteer in Montgomery County to hold the position.

Piccardi, 47, is a Baltimore resident and a 19-year member of the department. She was officially installed as chief on January 22 by the Cabin John Park Fire Department Board of Directors and voting membership, according to a news release by the department.

She succeeds James P. Seavey, Sr., who retired in December 2017 after 40 years of service at the department and 26 years as chief.

Cabin John Park VFD board president, Michael Harting, called Piccardi “a visionary—a forward thinker who brings not only a wealth of background and experience to the chief’s position but also respects the heritage and community values of the Cabin John, West Bethesda and Potomac citizens we serve.”

Piccardi was born and raised in Manly, New South Wales and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Sydney. She taught for seven years in Australia and in private schools in Potomac and Bethesda for 13 years.

According to WTOP, Piccardi previously served as battalion fire chief, assistant fire chief and deputy fire rescue chief at the department.

As the new chief, Piccardi will oversee over 100 active firefighters and emergency medical service, administrative and auxiliary volunteers.

She is also a nationally certified, full time firefighter and paramedic with the Manchester Fire Department in Carroll County and works part-time at Baltimore County’s Upperco Volunteer Fire Department.

“Everything we do is to make the community safer,” Piccardi said. “I don’t believe in stagnation. We can consistently explore ways to better serve our citizens, fellow first-responders and volunteers.”

Piccardi told Bethesda Magazine that there was an "underlying expectation" that she would fail as one of the only women in the department.

“The volunteer fire service is notoriously male-dominated,” she said. “Our world is not just white males anymore, and [the fire departments] need to be reflective of that."

Piccardi is married to Monika Piccardi, who is a health program administrator for the Maryland Department of Health. They have two daughters together, ages 18 and 8.

Photos via Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department