FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate applauded President Obama’s recent appointment of Andrew Velasquez III as FEMA Regional Administrator for Region V, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. “Regional Administrators are crucial to our ability to respond effectively to emergencies based on the needs of the communities we serve,” said Fugate. “Andrew Velasquez is not only an experienced emergency manager with deep roots in the region, but also a dedicated public servant. His knowledge and experience make him uniquely qualified to help lead our efforts there.”
Velasquez brings extensive experience in emergency management at the state and local level. He has served as Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and State Homeland Security Advisor since 2007, and prior to that was Executive Director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Since joining IEMA, Director Velasquez has been an active and vocal participant on the CUSEC Board of Directors. We wish him the best of luck in his new role as Regional Administrator of FEMA Region V.