Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Decker has been nominated for the agency’s top investigator award after leading fire investigations, conducting safety inspections, and responding to dozens of K-9 deployments across Maryland.
PIKESVILLE, Md. — Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Decker has been selected as the Southern Regional Office nominee for the 2025 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award, recognizing her investigative work, public safety efforts, and community outreach throughout Maryland.
Decker was nominated by Deputy Chief John Nelson, commander of the Southern Regional Office. She joined nominees from the agency’s regional offices and Special Operations Unit at the Maryland State Firefighters Association convention in Ocean City, where the statewide recipient was scheduled to be announced on June 22.
Veteran investigator recognized
A member of the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal since 2010, Decker has served as a fire investigator, instructor, public educator, and accelerant-detection K-9 handler.
According to the agency, Decker led 14 fire and explosive investigations in 2025, conducted 44 fire and life safety inspections, and completed two prisoner extraditions from Florida and West Virginia.
Her work has included assisting local, state, and federal agencies in determining the origin and cause of fires throughout the region.
K-9 team logged 62 deployments
Decker and her accelerant-detection K-9 partner, Taylor, responded to 62 deployments in 2025 across Maryland and neighboring jurisdictions.
The team assists investigators by identifying the presence of ignitable liquids that may help determine how a fire started.
Decker and Taylor graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Accelerant Detection Canine Program in 2024, making them one of a limited number of ATF-certified accelerant-detection teams in the country.
Community outreach highlighted in nomination
Nelson said Decker’s commitment to public engagement distinguished her from other candidates.
“In 2025, Melissa participated in 42 public education, community policing, and fire safety events across Southern Maryland and throughout the state,” Nelson wrote in his nomination letter.
“Her efforts to educate the public and strengthen community relationships go well beyond the expectations of her position.”
Her outreach activities included participation in Shop With a Cop events, No Hunger November initiatives, Touch-A-Truck programs, school career days, fire department camps, and public safety training programs.
Educating future professionals
Decker has also provided presentations on fire investigation techniques and accelerant-detection K-9 operations to a variety of audiences.
Those presentations have included criminal justice students, prosecutors, firefighters, and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.
“Melissa has a natural ability to connect with people,” Nelson said. “Whether at a fire scene, speaking with future professionals, or engaging with children in the community, she represents the Office of the State Fire Marshal with professionalism and authenticity.”
Nelson added that Decker’s “consistency, professionalism, and commitment to service reflect the very best of the agency.”
Key Points
• Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Decker was nominated for the 2025 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award.
• Decker and her accelerant-detection K-9, Taylor, responded to 62 deployments in 2025 and assisted in 14 fire and explosive investigations.
• Her nomination cited extensive community outreach, including 42 public education and fire safety events throughout Maryland.