Lori Nezhura has worked for the State of California since 2006. She is currently the Deputy Director of Planning, Preparedness, and Prevention at Cal OES, a role which includes oversight of the agency’s seismic hazards branch, dam safety, radiological preparedness, climate adaptation, and statewide allhazards emergency and continuity planning efforts. Additionally, she oversees the California Specialized Training Institute, a statewide enterprise with responsibility for supporting training, exercises, and education in wide variety of areas including, but not limited to, emergency management, public safety, homeland security, hazardous materials, disaster recovery, urban search and rescue, and crisis communications.
Prior to her current role, Lori spent almost six years as the Legislative Coordinator and manager of the Office of Tribal Coordination at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and nine years at the California Student Aid Commission as Legislative Director, Program Manager, and in various Analyst roles. Lori received her baccalaureate degree from Arizona Christian University in Phoenix and her postbaccalaureate teacher certification at Arizona State University in Tempe. After receiving her teaching credential, she moved to Saitama Prefecture in Japan for two years to teach English as a Second Language. Upon her return to the United States, she taught elementary classes at Carden Christian Academy for ten years before going into state service.