From the first day Kristina Kepner set foot in a fire station, she felt at home. She joined the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Explorers, a program for youth interested in fire service, when she was 15.

Although being the one girl in the room might have thrown some people off, Kepner didn’t mind. She remembers the group examining tools and equipment for the fire engines like rotary saws, hose couplings and ladders. She was enthralled.

“And they welcomed me into their group without hesitation. ‘What’s your name? Let us teach you about these tools and equipment,’” she recalled, about the beginnings of what has blossomed into a decades-long career. “I immediately felt like I was a part of the group, and I was doing things I never thought I’d get to do. It elevated my self-confidence and motivated me in many ways. From that moment on, I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

It is no secret that the LAFD is a massive operation, with projects taking place across the organization that require foresight, planning and coordination. A decade ago, Kepner – having ascended to the rank of assistant chief – took a project management course from UCLA Extension. She was part of an LAFD cohort of chiefs and high-level captains sent to UCLA Extension by the fire chief to elevate their project management skills and help push more projects across the finish line. She still finds herself leaning on the principles she learned then to keep operations running smoothly and effectively now.

“It provided me with the analytical tools to not only plan the project, but to develop the right team and track progress,” she said. “I learned how to be effective through the lifecycle of the project. Eleven years later and I’m still using the principles of what I learned in that project management course.”

Fun fact: Kepner was accepted to UCLA as a transfer student but decided against enrolling so that she could continue playing softball in college. Taking the UCLA Extension course closed the loop for her.

“I’m very proud to have completed this,” she said. “It was always a dream of mine to take courses in some capacity at UCLA. It not only developed my skills in managing high level projects, but it also enhanced my leadership skills to be able to lead a team to successfully complete those projects.”

Kepner almost immediately put her new knowledge into action. She was selected as the project manager for the inaugural LAFD Strategic Plan, which was a three-year outline for the entire organization. The final document includes goals, strategies and tactics.

“I see it as one of the most important documents in the history of the LAFD,” she said. “It finally gave us a roadmap.”

Since then, Kepner has been promoted twice – to battalion chief in 2016 and her current rank of assistant chief in 2019. At present, she is the commander of the LAFD’s Professional Standards Division, which oversees investigations into alleged misconduct of LAFD members.

“I use those skills I learned still in every assignment and really on a daily basis,” Kepner said. “And specifically, some of those principles – like detecting risk, budgeting – to see a project through to the finish line.”

Her project management skills again came into use during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, when she helped develop the city’s first testing site. This year, Kepner leapt into action during the Palisades Fire, where she worked as a director at the Emergency Operations Center. She was part of a three-person leadership team for the duration of the fires making decisions on behalf of the city as far as declaring an emergency, verifying that all city agencies were working together and ensuring appropriate resources were deployed properly at the incident.

“When I look back I think, if I hadn’t had some of the skills I learned from that course, I might not have been selected for those really important opportunities I was a part of,” she said.

LAFD projects are never-ending, and Kepner said she is glad she can utilize the skills she learned at UCLA Extension. A major takeaway – the importance of getting all stakeholders involved – remains a North Star.

“In an organization like the LAFD, we have several internal and external stakeholders. They should be solicited before beginning a project that would affect the communities we serve,” she said. “I love my job. I have a passion for it when I come to work every day. I was born and raised here in L.A. I would like to think that the positive impact I make in the department has a positive impact in my community.”