At just 34 years old, Jamila Reinhardt ‘07 is a firefighter for the San Francisco Fire Department and has also built careers in rugby and as an officer in the United States Navy. Born in Fresno, Calif., Reinhardt grew up with a strong military presence. “My dad was in the military, and was stationed in Fresno for about a year until he got new orders to be relocated,” she said. “We moved to East Palo Alto in 1994, and I lived there until I graduated from M-A.”
During her time at M-A, Reinhardt was introduced to rugby. “I discovered rugby when I was well into high school, but there were no teams for me. I had seen people in my neighborhood play rugby games behind the Boys and Girls Club, but I wasn’t really exposed to the sport yet,” she said.
Reinhardt instead played varsity basketball for M-A and was part of the Middle College program during her junior and senior years. “Growing up I was into contact sports that got my adrenaline pumping, and that defined my love for sports throughout my childhood,” Reinhardt said.
After graduating from M-A, Reinhardt initially wanted to pursue a career as a firefighter but was unable due to lack of experience. She then discovered the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Calif., which offered her the chance to go to college before fully enlisting in the military. “I was very set on enlisting, but I also always had an affinity to my father,” she said. “He wanted me to get an education first, and so that’s what I did.”
At the academy, Reinhardt joined a rugby team called the Sea Hags. “When I joined the team, I really got involved with rugby,” she said. “The sport just came so naturally to me.”
Reinhardt graduated from the academy in 2012 with a degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs. That same year, she began serving as a cryptologic warfare officer, where she worked for an intelligence unit of the United States military. Reinhardt was assigned to active duty, and was deployed to Ghana, Senegal, and Spain. Reinhardt also spent time in West Africa, where she was involved in multiple anti-piracy missions.
“After the first year of being in the military, I decided to look up opportunities to join a women’s rugby club team, and that’s where I discovered the Augusta Furies,” she said. Reinhardt joined and attended practices for two years, using the opportunity to improve her skills. The team made the national championship for the Eastern Conference. There, Reinhardt was scouted by professional club coach Martha Daines, who invited her to a professional women’s rugby training camp.
“At the end of the camp, I was invited to go on tour with the USA Women’s Rugby Team to play against Canada in 2015,” she said. However, just before the game, Reinhardt broke her foot, which delayed her participation in the tournament.
Reinhardt then returned to the Navy and was deployed for a year. Despite this, coaches remained interested in her. “Although I was in the military and had my own obligations, I was invited back to the training camp after I recovered,” she said.
Reinhardt’s first game back was in Utah, where she caught the attention of Pete Steinberg, who was the head coach of the USA Women’s Rugby Team at the time. “He was preparing a team of players for the World Cup squad, and he said he wanted to see me on the pitch,” she explained.
Reinhardt competed in the 2017 World Cup with the USA Rugby squad, where she played against Ireland. “Playing on the team was a very unique experience. We were all there just to be the best we can be, ” she said. “It was very competitive, but it was an amazing experience.”
Reinhardt then took classes at the City College of San Francisco’s fire academy. “I visited a large number of fire departments around the Bay Area and participated in various women’s firefighting boot camps,” she explained.
Reinhardt now works as a firefighter for the San Francisco Fire Department, where she’s been since she graduated from the fire academy in 2023.
Reinhardt’s advice to current M-A students: “Don’t give up. Even if you don’t know where you are going yet, you are still young. If you don’t love something that you are doing right now, it’s totally okay. It’s hard at times, but you just have to strive to be where you want to be.”
Reinhardt’s advice to individuals wanting to join the Navy or get into sports: “Definitely talk to a recruiter, that is a very good gateway into the naval field. Also, start pushing yourself to start doing more. Add things to your plate, and treat each activity as a stepping stone to your end goal. It makes certain phases of your career process easier.”
