Full Name
Deanne Criswell
Job Title
Administrator (former)
Company
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Speaker Bio
Deanne Criswell was confirmed by the Senate on April 22, 2021 as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As the FEMA Administrator, Ms. Criswell is responsible for leading and supporting the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system
of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. She previously served at FEMA as the leader of one of the Agency's National Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) and as a Federal
Coordinating Officer. In this role, Ms. Criswell was the primary Federal representative responsible for leading the agency's response to and recovery from emergencies and major disasters, from severe flooding in North Dakota to hurricanes in South Carolina to fires in Colorado.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Criswell served as the Commissioner of New York City Emergency
Management from 2019 to 2021. She was responsible for oversight of the City's efforts to plan and
prepare for emergencies, educate the public about preparedness, coordinate emergency response
and recovery, and disseminate emergency information. As the NYC Emergency Management
Commissioner, Ms. Criswell managed the City's response to emergencies including Tropical Storm
Isaias, extreme summer heat, and power outages including blackouts on the west side of
Manhattan and in southern Brooklyn in July 2019, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an executive in the homeland security sector of the Cadmus Group LLC, Ms. Criswell served as a
principal for clients at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as the private sector.
She also served as a firefighter and as the head of the Office of Emergency Management for the city
of Aurora, Colorado, where she led strategic change in the city's emergency and disaster
planning. During her tenure there, Ms. Criswell coordinated transitional housing and family
reunification efforts in response to receiving evacuees during the response to Hurricane Katrina.
As a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, Ms. Criswell served 21 years as a firefighter and
Deputy Fire Chief. In 2001, she deployed to Kuwait to serve as a fire officer in crash fire rescue
efforts and supported air missions in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2010, she deployed
to Qatar, Afghanistan, and Iraq to advise senior leadership on fire protection requirements for new
and existing military bases.
Ms. Criswell is a graduate of Colorado State University - Fort Collins, with a Bachelor of Arts in
technology education and training, holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of
Colorado – Denver, and a Master of Arts in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School,
Center for Homeland Defense and Security. She lives in Virginia with her dog. She also has two sons
and five grandchildren who are in Wisconsin and Colorado.
of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. She previously served at FEMA as the leader of one of the Agency's National Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) and as a Federal
Coordinating Officer. In this role, Ms. Criswell was the primary Federal representative responsible for leading the agency's response to and recovery from emergencies and major disasters, from severe flooding in North Dakota to hurricanes in South Carolina to fires in Colorado.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Criswell served as the Commissioner of New York City Emergency
Management from 2019 to 2021. She was responsible for oversight of the City's efforts to plan and
prepare for emergencies, educate the public about preparedness, coordinate emergency response
and recovery, and disseminate emergency information. As the NYC Emergency Management
Commissioner, Ms. Criswell managed the City's response to emergencies including Tropical Storm
Isaias, extreme summer heat, and power outages including blackouts on the west side of
Manhattan and in southern Brooklyn in July 2019, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an executive in the homeland security sector of the Cadmus Group LLC, Ms. Criswell served as a
principal for clients at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as the private sector.
She also served as a firefighter and as the head of the Office of Emergency Management for the city
of Aurora, Colorado, where she led strategic change in the city's emergency and disaster
planning. During her tenure there, Ms. Criswell coordinated transitional housing and family
reunification efforts in response to receiving evacuees during the response to Hurricane Katrina.
As a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, Ms. Criswell served 21 years as a firefighter and
Deputy Fire Chief. In 2001, she deployed to Kuwait to serve as a fire officer in crash fire rescue
efforts and supported air missions in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2010, she deployed
to Qatar, Afghanistan, and Iraq to advise senior leadership on fire protection requirements for new
and existing military bases.
Ms. Criswell is a graduate of Colorado State University - Fort Collins, with a Bachelor of Arts in
technology education and training, holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of
Colorado – Denver, and a Master of Arts in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School,
Center for Homeland Defense and Security. She lives in Virginia with her dog. She also has two sons
and five grandchildren who are in Wisconsin and Colorado.
Speaking At
