Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the appointment of Patrick Sheehan as director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). Sheehan takes over the director position from David Purkey, who returns to the singular position of homeland security advisor and assistant commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security after serving in dual roles for the past two years.
Sheehan is currently the operations administrator for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. He has led Ohio’s Emergency Operations Center and the Radiological and Preparedness Branches since 2014, and held several leadership positions in the since joining the agency in 2004. Ohio is a CUSEC Associate Member State.
“Patrick was the top candidate in a nationwide search for a director to lead the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. His experience coordinating the responses to several serious statewide emergencies in Ohio is impressive and he will use those skills to help Tennesseans during times of crisis,” Haslam said. I am honored by this opportunity and excited to serve the people of Tennessee,” Sheehan said. “TEMA has a great national reputation, and I look forward to working with the TEMA team and Tennessee’s county EMA directors to prepare for, respond to and recover from all disasters.”
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Sheehan and welcoming him to the CUSEC Board of Directors. We also thank Assistant Commissioner Purkey for his service to CUSEC as he returns to his post in Homeland Security.
