Regina Wilson

Regina Wilson is a firefighter for the FDNY and the president of The Vulcan Society. She is the first woman president for the organization. From 2007 to 2011, she led the United Women Firefighters as president. She was only the 12th African-American woman to join the FDNY when she entered the force in 1999.

During the September 11 attacks in 2001, she was on the scene as one of the first responders at the World Trade Center site. Seven members of her firehouse — Engine 219 in Park Slope, Brooklyn — died that day. She has spoken out about how the presence of women at Ground Zero went unrecognized — as have the sacrifices of female firefighters in general.

Wilson remains one of only 10 African-African women on a force of more than 10,000 firefighters and officers, according to the Vulcan Society.