HILL AIR FORCE BASE – Tiana Bykowski, Hill’s assistant fire chief with the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, knew she wanted to be a firefighter since she was 8 years old and got her first experience shadowing her father, who worked at Fire Station 41 in South Central/Watts, Los Angeles.

“In the 1980s, it was normal to take your child to work with you,” she said. “I rode next to him in the back of the fire truck and responded to major building fires, car accidents and medical calls throughout his district.”

Being close to her father and his fellow firefighters, who were constantly helping people, gave rise to Bykovsky’s desire to pursue the only profession she ever wanted to pursue.

She also joked that she was born with smoke in her veins, in a lineage of firefighters that includes her grandfather, great uncle, uncle and, of course, her father.

The plan was put into action when Bykowski joined the Glendale Arroyo Seco Fire Academy and worked as a firefighter for Warner Brothers Studios. Then tragedy struck the country.

“In September of that year, the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred and I knew I wanted to serve my country more,” she said. “I stayed in the deferred enlistment program until January 6, 2004, when I was finally sent to San Antonio with a guaranteed job as a 3E7x1 firefighter apprentice.”

After four years at Luke AFB in Arizona, Bykowski accepted a position as a civilian firefighter with GS06 in Hill while she waited for her future husband to rejoin her after a deployment to Korea.

“We spent the rest of my husband’s career here, where I supported him on six missions before he retired from explosive ordnance disposal in 2022.”

Bykowski worked her way up from an entry-level civilian position to become Hill’s deputy fire chief and the highest-ranking civilian in a male-dominated field, gaining a wealth of experience that she is happy to share with others.

Bykowski said that as a smaller woman – she is only 5 feet tall – she has faced some adversity in her career, but a positive attitude and extra effort have made all the difference.

“People told me I would never graduate from my first fire academy, let alone have a successful career in the fire service,” she said. “I never let them dissuade me from the dream I had as a little girl in a firehouse full of rough, tough guys. With a full commitment and a can-do attitude, you can go anywhere.”

Bykowski said that in any workplace, people face resistance and sometimes unfair treatment, but the key is to continue to believe in yourself.

“At some point in a person’s life, they will face resistance,” she said. “Don’t give in to it. Find people who believe in you and believe in yourself, because self-doubt can be the ultimate end of a person’s potential.”

Being different is not a bad thing, said Bykowski, and accepting one’s differences while recognizing one’s strengths are skills she honed in the professional organization Phoenix Ignited – USAF Women in Fire.

“I tried to fit in with the boys and be one of them, but I wasn’t one of them, no matter how much I wanted to be seen that way,” she said. “Phoenix Ignited changed my mindset. There is strength in being with other women who are empowering, encouraging and connecting with each other.”

If a person believes an injustice has occurred, Bykowski says it’s important to find a trusted advisor and talk about the situation, but also be open to listening to whether they may have been overly sensitive to the event or situation.

“Don’t let it cloud your view of reality, because it can be easy to see yourself as a victim and think that everyone is out to treat you unfairly,” she said. “It takes a much stronger mindset and attitude to not let yourself be victimized. However, if you feel you have been treated unfairly, don’t allow that behavior to continue.”

Bykowski believes in mentoring, both as a mentor and as a mentoree. She advises being proactive in finding a mentor and not waiting for someone to come along.

“I saw someone who had similar values, a successful career and a person I wanted to emulate, so I just asked him if he would be willing to be my mentor,” she said.

Bykowski said her recipe for being a good leader is to be a good follower, work hard and be kind.

“You have to understand what it means to follow others before you can get others to follow you,” she said. “Stay humble, maintain your self-confidence and keep your ego in check.”

Bykowski has made great strides in her nearly 20 years in the military fire service, but as a mother she wants to change the concept of career and motherhood, she said.

“I want to support women who want to become firefighters and have a family at the same time,” she said. “I hope to change the belief that you have to choose one or the other to be considered successful.”

Looking to the future, Bykowski wants to make people aware that every firefighter brings different qualities to the job.

“A good person is not defined by their appearance, but by their character, their willingness to work hard and maintain a positive attitude,” she said. “I look forward to moving on from the things we have done in the past and finding new ways to promote fire protection and safety at Hill AFB and in the surrounding communities.”