(BALTIMORE – May 9, 2026) — In a profession where seconds matter and leadership can mean the difference between life and death, Fire Chief Louis Winston has built a career defined by service, discipline, and unwavering commitment to community.
On Saturday, May 9, the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards—now in its 15th year—will honor Chief Winston at the Black Wall Street Sparrows Point edition, taking place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Pleasant Yacht Club.
Chief Winston currently serves as Fire Chief of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, a role he has held for more than four and a half years following his appointment by Calvin Ball on September 7, 2021.
His leadership caps a distinguished career spanning more than three decades.
Chief Winston first joined the Department on February 12, 1990, rising through every rank—from firefighter to Deputy Chief—before retiring in January 2020. After serving under seven fire chiefs and six County Executives, his return as Fire Chief reflects both trust in his leadership and the depth of his institutional knowledge.
At his core, Chief Winston is a servant leader.
He has built his leadership philosophy around transparency, collaboration, and inclusion—prioritizing the well-being of his personnel while ensuring the Department remains responsive to the evolving needs of the community. His focus on both internal culture and external service has helped guide Howard County’s fire and rescue system to remain among the most respected in the region.
Under his leadership, the Department has advanced forward-thinking initiatives that place it at the forefront of emergency response innovation. Notably, HCDFRS became the first ground-based EMS service in Maryland to implement a Whole Blood Program—an initiative designed to save the lives of critically injured patients experiencing severe blood loss.
At the same time, Chief Winston has made firefighter health and safety a top priority—championing nationally recognized carcinogen reduction strategies, while also introducing programs such as a Behavioral Health Specialist and the O2X Human Performance program to support the physical and mental well-being of first responders.
A graduate of Loyola Blakefield High School, Chief Winston holds a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security from University of Maryland Global Campus. His professional development includes Leadership Howard County’s Premier Class of 2015, the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute (Executive Fire Officer Program), and executive-level training at the University of Baltimore.
But beyond the uniform and the titles, there is another side to Chief Winston.
For years, he has been a mentor and coach in the Turner Station community—guiding young people through baseball, basketball, and football. Many of those he coached still call him “Coach” today, a testament to the lasting impact he has made far beyond emergency services.
His honors reflect that commitment: the Howard County Government Mentorship Award, the Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Shining Star Award, and the Turner Station Community Service Award.
Chief Winston is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, and the Black Chief Officers Committee.
Fire Chief Louis Winston is more than a first responder.
He is a leader.
A mentor.
A protector of community.
He is Black Wall Street.
Event Details
Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT
📍 Pleasant Yacht Club
📅 Saturday, May 9
🕓 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🎟️ RSVP: blackwallstreetsparrowspoint.eventbrite.com
