A leadership perspective on prioritizing dispatcher well-being and team investment in emergency services. This article explores how protecting your people creates stronger response systems and better community outcomes.
Her Story
About Julie
Julie Lockhart has dedicated more than three decades to serving her community through emergency communications, building a career defined by compassion, resilience, and unwavering leadership. As Director of the Mercer County Communications Center Authority in Princeton, West Virginia, she oversees the county's 911 operations after advancing through every level of dispatch since beginning her career in 1995. A proud trailblazer, Julie became the first woman to serve as the center's director, drawing on firsthand experience in every aspect of emergency communications to mentor the next generation of dispatchers and advocate for the professionals who serve as the critical first point of contact during emergencies. Raised in a family deeply rooted in public service—with a father who served as a West Virginia State Trooper, a brother in the State Police, and a sister in corrections—she developed an early appreciation for the dedication required to protect and serve others.
Throughout her career, Julie has earned numerous instructor certifications, including CPR, Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST1), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), and Crisis Negotiation training. She serves on the State of West Virginia Governor's Law Enforcement Subcommittee, where she collaborates on initiatives focused on mental health awareness and crisis intervention for public safety professionals. Drawing from her own experience with PTSD, Julie has become a passionate advocate for dispatcher wellness, working to ensure that emergency telecommunicators have access to counseling, peer support, and resources that help break the stigma surrounding mental health in first response professions. She believes that caring for those behind the headset is essential to strengthening the entire public safety system.
Beyond her leadership in emergency communications, Julie is an accomplished public speaker, event coordinator, and author. She wrote the children's book Brave Whiskers Rescue to introduce young readers to the role of 911 dispatchers and emergency responders, helping children understand how and when to call for help. Whether speaking at conferences, teaching future dispatchers, or advocating for mental health and crisis intervention, Julie remains committed to educating, inspiring, and serving others. Grounded by her love of the outdoors and time spent camping or near the water, she continues to lead with empathy, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose, striving each day to make a lasting difference in the lives of both her team and the communities they serve.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the example my parents set for me and the values of service, resilience, and leadership they instilled from an early age. Over the past three decades, I've been fortunate to grow from an emergency dispatcher to becoming Mercer County's first female Director of 911. Along the way, I've learned that true leadership is about advocating for others, supporting your team, and creating an environment where it's okay to ask for help.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Command the room with your competence, not with your attitude.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Authenticity builds trust, and respect is non-negotiable.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Remembering that I do not need an invitation to the all-male-dominated table, I have earned the right to be there.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being true to my vision at work and being there in whatever capacity is needed for my family.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Julie
What is your most "Valued" piece of advice?
Protecting your people is the foundation of effective emergency services leadership.
The most valued piece of advice I received when I stepped into a leadership role in emergency services was simple:
"Protect your people, and the rest will follow."
I didn't fully understand it at the time. But years in this field—years of midnight calls, rural roads, hard decisions, and harder conversations—taught me that the strength of any emergency response system begins with the humans wearing the headset: the 911 dispatchers.
When you invest in their well-being, training, confidence, and sense of purpose, everything else improves: response times, teamwork, communication, and the way we serve our communities.
That advice shaped my career, my leadership style, my expectations, and my heart for this profession. It is still the compass I use today.
If you're new to emergency services or any leadership role, hold tight to the people beside you. I've carried that advice through every role—dispatcher, supervisor, training coordinator, director. It is the foundation of how I show up for my team and how I advocate for the emergency response profession.
If you're stepping into a new leadership role, find the advice that becomes your North Star.
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