Denver Mayor Appoints New Homeland Security Director

Mayor John Hickenlooper today announced the appointment of Daniel Alexander as Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Alexander will assume his new post September 22, 2008.

Alexander currently serves as Homeland Security Director for the city of Milwaukee, Wis.

"Daniel's experience is impressive, especially his efforts to involve the private sector in all aspects of emergency management," Hickenlooper said. "His proven leadership of interdisciplinary teams within emergency management and his commitment to preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation make him a perfect fit with the talented, hard-working team in our Office of Emergency Management."

Currently leading Denver's Office of Emergency Management is Steve Steed, acting director, and Ellis Stanley, former head of Emergency Management for the city of Los Angeles. Stanley serves under contract with Denver as Director of Democratic National Convention Planning. He will work with Alexander to complete of the city's overall integrated emergency management and business continuity plans in time for the August 25-28 Democratic National Convention.

Alexander joined the Milwaukee police department in 1993 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1998. He was named administrative lieutenant of police in 2004 and again promoted to lieutenant of police in 2005. In 2006, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett appointed Alexander Homeland Security Director.

As Milwaukee's first Homeland Security Director, Alexander developed the city's emergency management program and managed Milwaukee's security planning, exercising and funding initiatives. He also created and managed the city's continuity of operations plan.

Alexander received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).