New York City’s Fire Department’s Highest Ranking Female Will Speak At Saint Peter’s College

Jersey City,NJ – New York City Fire Department Battalion Chief Rochelle “Rocky” Jones will speak at Saint Peter’s College at Noon on Monday, March 22, in Pope Lecture Hall on the College’s Jersey City campus. Jones, who is the highest ranking female in FDNY history, is the featured speaker for the College’s Women’s History Month celebration. The event is free and open to the public. Call 201-915-9140 for more information. Jones has been a FDNY trailblazer since joining the department in 1982 after spending the first six years of her professional career in the banking industry. She began working as a firefighter inWilliamsburg, Brooklyn and then transferred to Engine 159 in Staten Island. Jones was promoted in 1995 and became the first female lieutenant in the FDNY. Four years later, Jones was promoted to captain and was the Commanding Officer of Engine 4 in Manhattan’s Financial District during the events of September 11, 2001. Jones lost 14 firefighters who rushed to assist in theWorld Trade Towers attacks, including Paul Tetgmeier, the brother of Saint Peter’s College Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs Susan Tegtmeier. “My brother loved Rocky,” Sue Tegtmeier said. “She had the respect of all of the firefighters who worked for her. She has been an incredible help to our family as we continue to recover from losing Paul. She has been with us at his Memorial Service and the 9/11 memorials and anniversaries. I am thrilled that Rocky agreed to speak at Saint Peter’s. I can’t imagine a more inspirational person to have on campus during Women’s History Month. The FDNY administration was a man’s world until Rocky came along.” Since 9/11, Jones has continued her rise up the FDNY ranks. She was promoted again in June 2003 to Battalion Chief and now serves at various locations throughoutNew York City. Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located inJersey Cityand a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. Saint Peter’s also offers classes in downtownJersey Citynear the waterfront financial district and in South Amboy.