June 30, 2016 marked the retirement of longstanding CUSEC Board of Directors Meber and current Vice-Chairman, Mr. David Maxwell. Director Maxwell has served the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) in several functions for more than 37 years, starting as a temporary employee in 1978 and as State Director for the last 10 years. He also serves as State Homeland Security Advisor and is on numerous boards and committees within the State, including the Arkansas Governor’s Earthquake Advisory Council. Since his appointment to State Director in 2006, Director Maxwell has served as an officer of the CUSEC Board of Directors. Maxwell is also a past president of the National Emergency Management Association(NEMA), and chaired several NEMA Committees over the years.
In 2015 NEMA presented Director Maxwell with the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award, named in honor of the former Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director, a pioneer of emergency management and founding member of the CUSEC Board of Directors. Both Maxwell and Suiter played active roles in CUSEC’s early formation and success. The award is presented annually by NEMA to an individual that has made cumulative outstanding contributions to the field of emergency management. CUSEC would like to thank Director Maxwell for nearly four decades of commitment to improving all aspects of emergency management preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, and we wish him the best during his retirement from public service.
In late May, Mr. A.J. Gary, former Chief of Police for the Conway Police Department, was appointed by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison as the new director of (ADEM). Please join us in welcoming Mr. Gary to the CUSEC Board of Directors.
