Two Uniforms, One Mission: A Life of Service and Purpose
Published on May 15, 2025
Captain Tommy DeFrancisci, a Charlotte firefighter and active-duty Marine Sergeant Major, continues to lead with quiet strength and an unwavering mission to serve.
By Kevin Campbell, Charlotte Fire
Captain Tommy DeFrancisci wears two uniforms.
One belongs to the Charlotte Fire Department, where he leads a crew at Firehouse 32 with calm confidence and high expectations. The other is the dress blues of a United States Marine Sergeant Major—earned through more than two decades of continued service. He’s still serving in the Marine Corps today.
In both roles, he carries the same values: discipline, loyalty, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people beside him. For Captain DeFrancisci, there’s never been a question about who he is. From the fireground to the military ranks, he is a servant leader—one who leads by example and never forgets where he came from.
Captain Tommy DeFrancisci during a training evolution at Charlotte Fire Training Academy, wearing turnout gear with his name visible—a reminder of the individual commitment behind every team effort.
“Early on,” he said, “I chased the adrenaline. But that’s changed over time. Now, it’s about purpose. It’s about being part of something bigger.”
As the nation honors its service members during Military Appreciation Month, Captain DeFrancisci stands as a reminder that service doesn’t stop at the end of a deployment or a shift. For him, it’s a lifetime calling—still ongoing.
Raised to Serve
Tommy DeFrancisci grew up in Little Falls, New Jersey, surrounded by public service. His father worked for the DEA. His brother became a customs agent. His uncles were in law enforcement. His grandfather—a U.S. Marine—served in World War II and Korea and stayed involved in the Marine Corps League and community organizations long after leaving active duty. For Tommy, the idea of service wasn’t abstract. It was real. It was personal.
Two generations of Marines: Captain Tommy DeFrancisci with his grandfather, Sergeant Thomas DeFrancisci, whose legacy of service and mentorship helped shape Tommy’s path in both the military and fire service.
By sixteen, he joined the Little Falls Volunteer Fire Department.
“I thought I’d be a cop, like everyone else in my family,” he said. “But I started spending time with the fire department, and I was like—this is a cool gig.”
It felt right. There was action, yes. But there was also teamwork, hands-on problem solving, and purpose. He didn’t wait to chase it.
At nineteen, he entered Marine Corps boot camp. While still volunteering at the firehouse, he trained as a motor transport operator with the Marine Corps Reserve. What started as a part-time commitment quickly grew. He was activated, deployed to Iraq, and over time took on more responsibility. What never changed was his commitment to both the Corps and the fire service.
Iraq and the Road to Fallujah
In Iraq, DeFrancisci was part of a unit responsible for transporting Marines and supplies through hostile areas. He logged over 30,000 combat miles in Humvees and 7-ton trucks.
“We were everywhere,” he said. “Convoys all day, every day. Some of the most intense moments of my life.”
DeFrancisci (right) in Iraq during his early years in the Marine Corps. His unit logged over 30,000 combat miles during Operation Phantom Fury.
His unit played a major role in Operation Phantom Fury—the second assault on the city of Fallujah, one of the most pivotal battles of the war.
“It was high-risk work. You’re always watching the road, always on alert. But it makes you close—really close—with your crew. You trust each other with everything.”
That bond of brotherhood would later shape the way he leads his crew at Charlotte Fire.
He continued serving actively in the Marine Corps after returning from deployment. Over the years, he has taken on various leadership assignments, including reserve affairs roles, environmental and hazmat duties, and company-level leadership positions. Today, he holds the rank of Sergeant Major and serves as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines, an artillery unit overseeing batteries across the East Coast.
Sergeant Major Tommy DeFrancisci, currently serving in the Marine Corps, alongside his wife Katie. Her support has been the foundation of his dual-career life in service.
“It’s not something I’ve ever stepped away from,” he said. “I’m still in. Still serving. And I take a lot of pride in that."
Where's Charlotte?
One afternoon back at his New Jersey firehouse, DeFrancisci and his close friend Rob Porter—also a volunteer firefighter—were sitting around a table after training when a mutual friend mentioned something that would change everything.
“He said, ‘I’ve got a buddy who’s a chief down in Charlotte. The city’s growing. They’re hiring like crazy. They’re building firehouses, not shutting them down.’ And we just looked at each other and said, ‘Where’s Charlotte?’”
The two signed up for the entrance exam. Both were hired. Both went through rookie school together in 2006. They even made captain on the same day.
Captain DeFrancisci, moments after a training exercise, reflects the discipline and presence he brings to the fireground and beyond.
“It’s wild when I look back on it,” he said. “We came in just looking for a job. And we found a career.”
The transition wasn’t easy—new city, new department, new systems—but DeFrancisci threw himself into the work. He never asked for shortcuts. He focused on learning, growing, and earning respect the way he always had—by showing up early, staying late, and doing the work well.
Leading with Intention
Today, Captain DeFrancisci leads Charlotte Fire’s crew of Ladder 32 at Firehouse 32. His crew may not be the busiest in the city in terms of call volume, but the complexity of their work requires constant training, sharp communication, and rock-solid trust.
“We train like we’re going to use it tomorrow—because we might,” he said.
He brings a military mindset to the firehouse—not in formality, but in clarity.
“Structure matters. Expectations matter,” he said. “I tell my firefighters exactly what I expect from them. And I ask them what they expect from me. That’s how you build trust.”
The crew of Ladder 32: Firefighter Drake, Captain DeFrancisci, and Engineer Duckworth. DeFrancisci leads with precision and pride.
It’s not just technical ability that makes a good firefighter in his eyes. It’s attitude.
“I had a captain years ago tell me, ‘I can always pull the reins back on someone. But it’s hard to light the fire if it’s not already there.’ I look for that fire in people. The drive.”
His leadership is firm but personal. He studies the people around him—what motivates them, what they need, how they respond under pressure. He believes in empowering his crew, not micromanaging them.
“We don’t always agree,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we have mutual respect, and we share the same goal—serve the community, and take care of each other.”
Two Worlds, One Mission
For Captain DeFrancisci, the Marine Corps and the fire service aren’t separate chapters. They’re interconnected. What he learns in one role directly strengthens the other.
“Honestly, they’ve shaped each other,” he said. “The structure, the mission-first mindset, the chain of command, the way you build a team—that all carries over.”
And both, he says, have taught him the value of leading with humility.
Captain DeFrancisci dons full gear during a technical rescue training scenario. “We train like we’ll use it tomorrow—because we might,” he says.
“You’re not owed anything in either one. You earn everything—trust, respect, responsibility. You earn it day by day.”
He continues to balance both commitments—coordinating Marine Corps responsibilities on weekends and travel days, while maintaining a leadership presence at Charlotte Fire. It's not easy. But for him, it’s meaningful.
Family, Balance, and the Firehouse Brotherhood
Outside of work, Captain DeFrancisci is a husband and father of three daughters. His wife has supported him through deployments, drills, overnight shifts, and every unexpected call that comes with wearing two uniforms.
“She’s the one who keeps everything together,” he said. “She’s raised our girls, kept us grounded. I couldn’t do this without her.”
He also jokes that Charlotte Fire and the Marine Corps give him a much-needed break from the “pink princess world” at home. “This is my escape,” he laughs. “This is my time to reset.”
At home in both uniforms: Captain DeFrancisci with his wife and daughters at a Marine Corps Ball. For him, service is a family value.
The firehouse, for him, is more than a workplace. It’s a second family. And the team he’s built reflects the values he lives by—mutual respect, honest communication, and the understanding that when the call comes in, everyone knows their role.
“We spend so much time together in this job—you have to build real relationships. That means being honest, being present, and being willing to lead when it counts.”
A Life Still in Motion
Captain Tommy DeFrancisci doesn’t talk about accolades. He talks about the mission. About showing up. About helping the next generation succeed. But make no mistake—his service, both to his city and his country, has been exceptional.
As the nation pauses to recognize the men and women in uniform this Military Appreciation Month, he will be right where he always is: in the field, in the firehouse, with his crew, doing the work.
“This job, the Corps—it’s never been about me,” he said. “It’s about the people you serve with. It’s about getting better. It’s about showing up.”
And for Captain DeFrancisci, that mission continues.
Captain Tommy DeFrancisci descends the stairs during a training exercise at Charlotte Fire Training Academy. His approach to leadership is simple — train hard, stay ready, and take care of your team.
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