Deanne Criswell Becomes FEMA’s First Confirmed Female Administrator

Deanne Criswell has officially been sworn in as FEMA’s twelfth administrator, the first woman confirmed to serve in this role. She took the oath after receiving unanimous support from the Senate at the conclusion of her confirmation hearing last week. Criswell is a FEMA veteran, having led one of the agency’s National Incident Management Assistance Teams and served as a federal coordinating officer. She also previously served as commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department and head of the Office of Emergency Management in Aurora, Colorado. Additionally, Criswell served 21 years as a firefighter and deputy fire chief in the Colorado National Guard. “The pathway to a ready and resilient nation requires a shared vision and takes proactive mindset,” said Criswell during her confirmation hearing. “We must reduce risk through system-based mitigation. We must increase the resilience of our communities so they can adapt as threats change. And we must scale our response to minimize the consequences of disasters and emergencies,” she added. Criswell replaces Bob Fenton, who had been serving as acting administrator since Pete Gaynor left at the end of the Trump administration. Read more at FEMA and Homeland Security Today.