Madalena is the oldest daughter of Deputy Chief AJ DeAndrea (retired). The backdrop of
her childhood were the events of her father’s historic career. A Colorado Native,
Madalena received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Strategy
from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018. During her time at CU, she served as
Student Body President for her 30,000 classmates which gave her the unique opportunity
to directly manage a $24-Million budget, lead a 500-person organization, speak to crowds
of 8,000+ people, and work with world leaders like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
Vice President Joe Biden.
Following her undergraduate studies, Madalena worked for a non-profit in Los Angeles,
CA. While serving in this role she went out for a night of dancing with her friends at
Borderline Bar and Grill and the unthinkable happened – a gunman came in and started
shooting. Madalena was able to find safety in the attic above the bar where she stayed for
the remainder of the tragedy as 12 people, including responding Police Officer, Sgt. Ron
Helus, were killed.
After surviving the Borderline tragedy, Madalena had to make a decision about what her
future would look like. Following the incredible example of her father, she sought mental
health support within 48 hours of returning home from California. Within a week, she
made a choice to not let evil win and to be a force for good in the world.
Madalena now proudly serves as the Emergency Management Specialist for Jeffco Public
Schools, the School District she grew up in. She is a certified Threat Liaison Officer for
the state of Colorado and is trained in CPTED, CIT, FEMA’s Incident Command Series
and Professional Development Series, and Single Officer Response to an Active Shooter.
In her spare time, Madalena travels the country telling her story and sharing her message
of hope, resiliency, and post-traumatic growth with law enforcement agencies, school
districts, businesses, and community organizations. Madalena is passionate about
empowering individuals and communities with the mindsets and tools needed to build
resiliency even in the face of life’s uncertainties!
