Fort Myers fire chief inspires with leadership and legacy

FORT MYERS - Chief Tracy McMillion is a name that resonates with leadership and inspiration in the Fort Myers community.

Known for his signature mustache and nickname "TMAC, " McMillion has been serving as the first African American fire chief in Fort Myers for the past seven years.

McMillion began his journey in 1996 as a firefighter and EMS at the Fort Myers Fire Dept. He later moved to the Iona and McGregor Fire Dept. in 2003, where he held several leadership roles for over a decade.

In 2019,  McMillion returned to Fort Myers as the fire chief, a role he eagerly embraced.

"Having just been immersed in the fire service and immersed in the community, and immersed in the city for so long, I think the opportunity just really spoke to it being natural, and people seeing yea this individual has put in the work and put in the time in spite of maybe the difference of color, this individual has put that work in," said McMillion.

As a trailblazer, McMillion emphasizes the importance of believing in dreams and working hard to achieve them.

"Growing up, our parents would tell us, 'Hey, you can do anything that you want to do.' And that message still is the same today. The sky's the limit. And one of the things I always try to tell folks in their graduation speech is, 'don't necessarily reach for the stars, but be the stars that others reach for.' And so basically, you can be that individual that shines a light," said McMillion.

While McMillion has already made history, he says his journey is far from over, with no plans for retirement anytime soon.