Sandra Richards is a Battalion Chief for the
City of Memphis Fire Services. She has served the Department for 16
years and is
the second African American Battalion Chief in the
163 year history of the
department to earn the rank of Chief.
Sandra graduated from high school as the
Valedictorian. She continued her education by earning a B.A. in Finance
from Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, a B.P.S in Fire
Administration from the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee and
M.S.A in Information Systems Management from Central Michigan
University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan (December 2009).
Her work experience has included contract
management, general contracting, project management, meeting planning,
fiscal, and management consulting. Sandra is the President, of the
Progressive Black Firefighters of Memphis and holds numerous
certifications in the Fire Service industry.
Sandra is active in civic and
professional organizations. They include but not limited to Secretary
Treasurer of the Shelby County Emergency Communications District, the
National Emergency Numbers Association, the Association of Public Safety
Officials, former Democratic State Executive Committeewoman District #32
(twelve years), FEMA USAR team (Tennessee Taskforce One, Technical
Information Specialist), NAACP, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Sandra Richards is the mother of a
daughter and goddaughter. Her hobbies include gardening (flowers &
vegetables) traveling, playing tennis, and participating in half
marathons.