Being the first female head of FEMA, Deanne Criswell made history by taking her role seriously. Criswell was the New York City Emergency Management Office’s commissioner before. Her extensive background includes time spent serving in the Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Wing, which included a trip to Kuwait. She also spent 21 years working as a firefighter. She was in charge of Aurora, Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management before joining FEMA.
As part of the Obama administration, Deanne also worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. All of these experiences have given her the ability to manage emergencies and respond to natural disasters.
On April 22, 2021, the Senate unanimously confirmed Ms. Deanne Criswell, making her the 12th Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The appointment of Criswell as Administrator is a historic first for a woman to head the country’s efforts to support people before, during, and following disasters. She has a 30-year public service experience and a wide range of expertise from all levels of government.
