Deborah Flower Boice ('86, Chemical Engineering)

Deborah Flower Boice

Senior Vice President, Western Region, Swiss Re

BS Chemical Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona, 1986

MBA, Cal State Fullerton, 1993

Deborah Flower Boice has dedicated her professional career to keeping people and companies safe and insured. Through her years in the industry, she has seen significant changes and advancement within the fields of insurance and fire protection engineering along the way.

It all started with the right choice of major—chemical engineering—and the right university—Cal Poly Pomona. After graduation, Deborah went to work for an insurance company specializing in chemical processing facilities and oil refineries. She trained to become a fire protection engineer to assess these facilities’ protection features to help mitigate losses.

Soon after, Deborah was first promoted to management at age 29, making her the one of the youngest female managers in the company. She eventually moved to the underwriting side of the business, where her engineering knowledge continues to help her understand the risks she underwrites. Today, Deborah serves as senior vice president for Swiss Re’s Western Region, analyzing and underwriting a large book of commercial properties.

Deborah also became active in the Southern California chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers—serving as president of the local chapter, serving on the international Board of Directors and finally as the first female president of the international Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
“Try something and if you’re not passionate about it, try something else. Always be ready for the next challenge. Keep your skillset sharp and retool as needed for the next steps in your career journey,” Deborah says.