Albuquerque, NM—The New Mexico State Police held the First Annual Women's Summit for female state police officers on Wednesday and Thursday, gathering 54 women to discuss unity, empowerment, struggles faced on the job, and female officer accomplishments.

The summit, which included Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's participation in a panel discussion, also gave attendees a chance to network and get to know one another better, as they are stationed in various roles across the state. NMSP female officers were recognized for their commitment to their communities, their courage, and the embodiment of strength that they showcase daily.

The summit featured special guest speakers, including Lujan-Grisham, the first Democratic Hispanic woman elected governor in United States History; Sonya Chavez, the first woman to serve as New Mexico United States Marshal, and now holds the title of New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Director; Sue DeWalt, the first female New Mexico State Police Officer, who in 1976 graduated from the 34th recruit class and retired after 21 years of service; and New Mexico State Police Deputy Chief Carolyn Huynh, who is the first female to achieve the rank of New Mexico State Police Deputy Chief.

"Thank you for your commitment and courage; together, let's continue to break barriers and inspire future generations of female leaders in law enforcement," said Deputy Chief Huynh, who has served NMSP for over twenty years and continues to be a role model for NMSP, as she leads by example and inspires her female officers daily.

"I am proud of the female leaders in our agency who continually set examples of true leadership, strength, perseverance, and resiliency," said New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler. "Female officers bring exceptional skills to the profession and challenge stereotypes while breaking barriers. We will continue to work towards the 30x30 initiative, which is an effort to increase female representation in law enforcement to 30% by 2030."

The First Annual Women's Summit was a great success. These women shared stories, accomplishments, and goals for their futures, inspiring one another and making new memories. New Mexico State Police will continue to bring their female officers together to collaborate, with the goals of increasing strength in numbers and creating a pathway for future leaders.