On Tuesday, Derek Mummert was officially confirmed as the new Director of the Gadsden-Etowah Emergency Management Agency. Mummert, who has been an Emergency Management Specialist in Gadsden for two years, brings more than 15 years of public service experience to the role.
“We are excited to see Derek at the helm of the EMA, and look forward to his leadership in improving the way Gadsden and Etowah County communities respond to emergencies,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. “As we saw with last week’s storms, dedicated coordination and comprehensive advance planning are key to responding in the worst of times. Derek has the skills, experience, and demeanor needed to efficiently manage emergencies, which can often be stressful, chaotic, and overwhelming. This hire puts our communities on firm footing moving forward.”
The emergency management agency is administered by the City of Gadsden, but serves as a countywide agency. As such, the hiring of a director requires approval of both the Gadsden City Council and the Etowah County Commission. While the City Council approved Mummert’s hiring last week, the County Commission’s vote officially confirmed it Tuesday.
“I am honored to take on this role and do not take the responsibility lightly,” said Mummert. “With the city’s new administration and the spirit of cooperation throughout the county, I am confident we will develop a system of emergency management that can be second to none. I am looking forward to working with the EMA team and regional partners to ensure we are prepared for any disaster that may strike our community. I want to thank our local leaders for seeing the importance of this agency and this vision. Together, we will weather whatever storms may come!”
Mummert has earned more than 500 hours of training in emergency management, including FEMA Instructor Training and Communication Technician training, and is pursuing advanced certification in emergency management and the designation of certified local emergency manager. He has a background in legal studies and is currently working toward a disaster and emergency management degree.
Prior to working at Gadsden-Etowah EMA, Mummert served for five years as a correctional officer for the Georgia Department of Corrections and developed eight years of experience in private business.
A native of northwest Georgia, Mummert now resides in Gadsden and is married to Kimberly, a teacher at Oscar Adams Elementary School. Together, they have seven-year-old twins, Kieley and Declan.