From Intern to Indispensable: Charlotte Fire’s Civilian of the Year

By Kevin Campbell, Charlotte Fire 

When Malik Burkett walks into Charlotte Fire’s Logistics Division each morning, he knows exactly what his work means, even if most people never see it. “I know what I do isn’t what gets those guys home at night,” he said, “but I know what I take care of helps them get through their day so they can get back home to their families.” 

That sense of purpose, grounded in humility and a strong work ethic, has carried Burkett from a teenage intern to Charlotte Fire’s Facilities Services Coordinator and now to being recognized as the department’s 2025 Civilian of the Year. 

Burkett wasn’t born in Charlotte, but it quickly became home. He moved to the city at age eight to live with his aunt, later joined by his mother. “They just made Charlotte home,” he said. He attended West Charlotte High School before graduating from Harding University High in 2013. 

From logistics to leadership, Burkett’s work supports every Charlotte Fire member across the city. 

As graduation approached, Burkett had his sights set on the Marine Corps. But an honest conversation with his recruiter, who happened to be Charlotte Fire Engineer Drew Rucks, changed everything. “Sergeant Rucks told me straight up I wasn’t going to graduate on time,” Burkett said. “He told me to go talk to my counselor.” That visit set off a chain of events that would steer his life in a new direction. “While I was in the office, I found out you could do internships with the Fire Department over the summer,” he said. “She pointed me in the right direction.” 

At 17, Burkett joined the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program, spending the summer of 2012 as an intern with Charlotte Fire. “We rode around with each division and learned what they did,” he said. “Toward the end of the internship, I started spending more time with the Logistics team because there was always something to do. They kept me busy, and I liked that. I got to learn how things worked behind the scenes.”  

That experience turned out to be a defining moment. The following summer, Burkett returned for another internship. “I wasn’t going to college, and I didn’t go through with the military,” he said. “Deputy Chief Rich Granger at the time said, ‘Hey man, you can stick around. We’ll look at some options, maybe put you through school.’” 

He began taking classes at Central Piedmont Community College, but it didn’t take long to realize that his heart and his future were with Charlotte Fire. “School wasn’t for me,” he admitted. “So I stuck around working for the city.”

Charlotte Fire’s Facilities Services Coordinator Malik Burkett stands inside the department’s Logistics Division, where his leadership helps keep operations efficient and firefighters equipped for every call.

That path wasn’t without obstacles. In November 2014, the city eliminated all part-time positions, leaving Burkett without a job. “I’ll never forget that date,” he said. “November 14, 2014.” Determined to keep working, he joined a grading company run by a colleague from Charlotte Fire. “I’d never run a chainsaw in my life,” he said with a laugh. “The first day, I ran it from 8 in the morning till sundown. Only stopped to eat lunch and put fuel in it.” 

He later found work in a warehouse but stayed in touch with his contacts at Logistics. When the division relocated to Graham Street around 2016, the phone rang again. “They said, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ I said, ‘Looking for a job.’ They told me to come see them.” In May 2016, Burkett returned to Charlotte Fire full-time and never looked back.

Two years before his return, tragedy struck. His mother passed away in 2014, leaving him searching for stability. What he found was family within Charlotte Fire. “One day I was having a bad day, just off by myself crying,” he said. “A colleague came over, wrapped her arm around me, and said, ‘It’s OK baby, I got you.’ And from that moment on, she had me. She’s always been there for me.”

Burkett helps ensure firefighters have the uniforms, equipment, and supplies they need to stay mission-ready every day. 

That kind of compassion, he says, is what defines the Charlotte Fire culture. “It’s definitely a big family-oriented environment,” he said. “Everybody looks out for each other.” 

That family spirit fuels his motivation. “If someone asks you to do something, ask yourself, ‘If I asked them to do that, would they do it?’” he said. “Treat people how you want to be treated. If everyone does that, it’s one big happy family.” 

Burkett’s career has continued to grow with the department. Last year, he earned a promotion to Facilities Services Coordinator, a role that blends leadership, logistics, and a deep understanding of what firefighters need to do their jobs effectively. “I went from running around and doing stuff to where now I can delegate someone to do it,” he explained. “And on top of that, I make sure bills are paid, supplies are in stations, and equipment’s on trucks.” 

At the Logistics Division, Burkett helps coordinate the movement of supplies and equipment that keep Charlotte Fire’s operations running smoothly. 

In many ways, his department operates like a behind-the-scenes engine that keeps Charlotte Fire moving. “We’re basically the Amazon of the Fire Department,” he said. “Someone wants something, we’ll get it. If we can’t get it, we know where to get it, and we try to get it to them fast. We literally give all our new employees everything but socks and underwear.” 

Those who work alongside Burkett say his consistency, reliability, and positive spirit set him apart—qualities that earned him this year’s Civilian of the Year distinction. But true to form, he credits the people around him. “I just try to go above and beyond,” he said. “I love my job. I wouldn’t change it for anything.” he said. 

He added, “A deputy chief once told me, ‘If you get a job you like, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ And that’s how I feel.” 

From a high school student unsure of his next step to a leader who embodies the heart of Charlotte Fire’s support network, Malik Burkett’s journey is a testament to hard work, resilience, and gratitude. He’s living proof that opportunity, when met with determination, can become a lifelong calling.