It will be interesting how the career service vs. political appointee ends up playing out over time. Certainly the push is for professional emergency managers to be in the positions of responsibility. We'll have to see how this plays out during the current administration.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today announced the selection of MaryAnn Tierney as FEMA Regional Administrator for Region III, which encompasses the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Tierney joins FEMA from her post as the Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management in the City of Philadelphia, where she has served since 2006. Her commitment to emergency management is reflected in her leadership of a transformation in emergency preparedness for the city. Tierney focused on developing operational emergency plans, providing training for first responders and creating new relationships with private and public sector partners throughout the region. Prior to her service in Philadelphia, she spent more than seven years in New York City's Office of Emergency Management, ending her tenure there as the Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Preparedness.
Mrs. Tierney holds a B.A. in Political Science from American University and a Masters in Public Administration from New York University. She was recently admitted to the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security's Executive Leaders Program.
