Rachael began her career in public safety in 2000 as an EMT for a local ambulance company. In 2001, she became a volunteer firefighter with the City of Fountain in Colorado and then earned a position as its first paid, full-time female firefighter in 2002. Rachael was hired by the Colorado Springs Fire Department in the fall of 2005. By 2012, she was promoted to the rank of Paramedic; and, in 2016 was promoted to her current rank of Lieutenant.

Rachael also serves as the HOT coordinator for Women in Fire, teaching and coordinating Hands-On training at conferences. Rachael currently serves as a mentor to firefighters from several different states and actively participates in local recruitment and diversity panels.