Russell J. Strickland serves as Secretary of Emergency Management since February 10, 2022 (Acting Secretary of Emergency Management, Oct. 1, 2021 to Feb. 10, 2022). In this role, Strickland leads an agency that has the primary responsibility and authority for disaster risk reduction and consequence management for the State of Maryland. This includes serving as a direct advisor to the governor during disasters and coordinating support for local governments as requested.
The agency focuses on solving complex problems, resource management and situational analysis. Directly prior to his appointment, Strickland worked as a Senior Law & Policy Analyst at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS), where he led CHHSā€™ work with the United States Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and developed strategy for the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire Department to meet compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).