Fielding has served on the UVA Police force for 27 years. She joined UVA as a security officer in 1992. She was promoted to police officer in 1993, sergeant in 1998, lieutenant in 2007, and captain in 2015.
In the summer of 2018, she served as Acting Chief of Police before Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police Tommye Sutton arrived.
Fielding’s appointment as Deputy Chief was effective April 15. She is a 2010 graduate of the FBI National Academy, a 2007 graduate of the National Criminal Justice Command College, and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bluefield College.
Fielding began her career at UVA after completing an enlistment in the Army where she served as a military police officer and was deployed to the Middle East region in 1991. She received an Army Commendation and Meritorious Service medal during that deployment.
"Deputy Chief Fielding joins a small group of women in higher education who have achieved this senior rank in the police force," said UPD Chief Tommye Sutton. “Melissa is a well-known face at the university and in the community, and we are fortunate that she chose to build her law enforcement career here.”
“I want to thank the many people who supported me during my years at UVA and helped make this possible,” said Fielding. “I am honored and humbled to accept this new role to serve our community.”