Dena Ali is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department. She also serves as the program manager of Behavioral Health for the First Responder Center for Excellence. Ali holds a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide. She is an Executive Fire Officer Program graduate through the National Fire Academy. Throughout her career, she has received several awards, one of the most notable being the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor Award. She earned this award for her steadfast efforts to bring awareness to firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena is the author of the Fire Engineering bestselling book Hope out of Darkness ~ A Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness