Yesterday, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced Preeti Emrick as the County’s new Director of Emergency Management.

As Director of  the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Emrick will oversee the agencies efforts that range from preparing comprehensive emergency management plans to coordination efforts with County, State, Federal, and non-governmental agencies on recovery efforts.

“Preeti has shown outstanding leadership during this pandemic,” said County Executive Pittman. “Her familiarity with our county, her experience in hospital emergency management, and her law training make her uniquely qualified to oversee our OEM team and guide our recovery from this pandemic. We thank Deputy Chief Tim Mikules for his extraordinary service as Acting Director. He will resume his duties at the Fire Department and continue as a highly valued member of the team.”

According to a press release:

“I’m honored to be appointed to lead the county during the response and recovery of the various stages of this pandemic,” said Ms. Emrick. “I care deeply about this county and its citizens. And I’m passionate about emergency management and making sure we’re well prepared for the tough days ahead.”

Ms. Emrick’s expertise includes emergency management operations, training, planning, and health areas. She has served at state and local agencies as well as the private sector facilitating and directing emergency responses in both planned and active incidents.

She has worked previously with the University of Maryland Capital Region Health and University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, She has published articles regarding public health disaster response and emergency management planning, and was an adjunct instructor of public health law and emergencies at the University of Maryland.

Read the full press release for more information.