Alaya Burns, a story of faith, service and the future of 911

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Vicksburg-Warren E-911 Director Alaya Michelle Burns gives all the glory to God for her recent promotion to lead the department.

“First and foremost, I give all glory to God. I thank Him for trusting me with this opportunity and for allowing me the space to grow, learn, lead, and serve. When I first came to Vicksburg-Warren E-911 in January 2023, I did not walk through the door with the goal of becoming Director. I came in ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to be useful. Every opportunity that followed grew from that mindset, and I truly believe God ordered my steps along the way,” said Burns.

Her journey through 911 has allowed her to experience the center from nearly every level. She began as a dispatcher in 2023, by the following year, she was named the 2024 Dispatcher of the Year. In March of 2025 she was promoted to Lead Dispatcher of Charlie Shift. She moved into the role of Alpha Shift Supervisor in January of 2026. In May 2026 she earned the title Acting Deputy Director. Now she leads the entire department.

“Now, I have been given the honor and responsibility of serving as Director of 911. I do not take the speed of that journey lightly. If anything, it makes me even more aware of how much responsibility comes with this position and how much I still want to learn,” explained Burns.

Burns is a Vicksburg native and said the community has helped shape her long before she ever sat behind a 911 console.

She attended Bowman Elementary, Vicksburg Junior High School and graduated with honors from Vicksburg High School earning a 4.0 GPA and was ranked ninth in her graduating class. She went on to attend Milksops College before transitioning to Arizona State University.

While she was taking classes at ASU, she also helped care for her grandmother.

“That season of my life taught me a great deal about responsibility, sacrifice, compassion, and service, lessons that continue to influence the way I lead today,” Burns explained.

Burns said her definition of leadership stems from lessons in the Bible.

“For me, leadership has never been about having the biggest title in the room. Jesus served. That is what He did. Because of that, I believe leadership should be rooted in service,” Burns said. “This position is simply another opportunity for me to serve; to serve the people inside this building, the dispatchers who answer the calls and work the radios, the first responders we work alongside every day, and the citizens of Vicksburg and Warren County who depend on us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”

Burns also explained she doesn’t let the title “director” matter as much as the responsibility the title signifies.

“If I am being truthful, I care far less about the title than I do about the responsibility attached to it. My question is simple: How can I best help you? What would you like to see done differently? What can we improve?” she said she asks herself.

She explained that she wants the employees, partner agencies, and the community to know she is open to discuss ideas and suggestions.

“I will not pretend to have every answer, and I do not believe good leadership requires that. I believe good leadership requires listening, learning, accountability, humility, and the willingness to make changes when changes are needed,” said Burns.

Burns did say she hopes her role can help inspire other young leaders.

“I also hope my appointment can challenge the way we sometimes think about young leadership. I have tremendous respect for the people who have been doing this work longer than I have been alive. Experience and Institutional knowledge matters. Our seasoned professionals and longtime citizens have wisdom that younger leaders should be willing to receive. But I would also challenge them to make room for us as we grow. Mentor, correct, teach, and support us. Do not dismiss or discourage us simply because we are young. In other words, do not ‘eat our young.’ Help develop us, because eventually we are the ones who will be responsible for carrying the work forward,” she said.

Burns said being young does not mean believing the past has nothing to teach people. She said it means taking the opportunity of what has already been built, respect it, learn from it and help move things forward.

“Technology is changing constantly, and emergency communications is changing with it. The way people communicate, the tools available to first responders, the expectations of the public, and the systems inside a modern 911 center continue to evolve. Leadership has to be willing to evolve as well!,” she said.

Burns explained further that she believes there is value in bringing a younger perspective in leadership during a time when technology is advancing so quickly. She doesn’t believe it means changing something just for the sake of change. She explained it means being willing to ask whether there is a better, safer, more efficient, or more effective way to serve.

“We have to be able to adapt to the world we live in while still preserving the standards, discipline, and reliability that emergency communications requires,” said Burns.

In her new role of Director, Burns said she has set goals for the department and she will not ask others to do anything she’s not willing to do herself.

“As Director, I want to continue strengthening our operations, investing in our dispatchers, improving training and professional standards, embracing technology that helps us do our jobs better, and building even stronger relationships with not only the agencies, but communities we serve. I also want our employees to know that I am not asking them to do anything I am unwilling to do myself. I still wear a headset. I still understand what it feels like to sit at that console, handle the radio traffic, answer the phone, and carry the responsibility that comes with being the voice on the other end of an emergency,” she said.

Burns said she wants to highlight the men and women who sit inside the communications center for 12 hours at a time answering calls, working radios day and night- including weekends and holidays.

“They are often away from their own families while helping someone else’s family through an emergency. They are the heart of what we do,” she stressed.

Despite the fact that Burns is the first female Director of 911 in Warren County, she doesn’t want the spotlight on her.

” I want our dispatchers to be seen, appreciated, and recognized for the work they do every single day. My job as Director is not just to lead the center. It is also to make their jobs and their lives easier wherever I can, while continuing to improve the service we provide to our first responders and to the community. Any success I have in this position will always be connected to the men and women sitting behind those phones, radios, and headsets,” she said.

Burns knows better than to promise perfection, but she does promise she will work, listen, continue learning and give her very best for the position.

“I am grateful to everyone who has trusted me, taught me, challenged me, supported me, and given me room to grow. Most of all, I am grateful to God for placing me here and trusting me with another opportunity to serve,” said Burns.

Although she just embarked on her new mission assignment, Burns is far from accomplishing her goals.

“This is not the finish line for me. It is another beginning. I am here to serve, and I am excited about what the future holds for Vicksburg-Warren E-911,” she said.