| Regional Cooperation and TOPOFF 2
The King County, WA Experience Eric E. Holdeman, CEM Director, Office of Emergency Management King County, Washington State November 12, 2003 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern Time |
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Related Websites:
King County OEM
May 16, 2003 TOPOFF 2 Press Release
Regional Public Information Network
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Eric Holdeman joined King County, Washington State in 1996, and is currently serving as the Director, King County Office of Emergency Management. He is responsible for emergency management and E-911 regional support to all areas of King County (which is the greater metropolitan area of the City of Seattle), and for facilitating regional coordination between levels of government and emergency management programs in the public and private sectors. Establishing public and private disaster prevention and preparedness partnerships with businesses in the Puget Sound region and building "Disaster Resistant Communities" continues to be a major area of emphasis for him. He has been designated the Homeland Security Coordinator for the King County Executive.
Current ongoing projects that his office is participating in are: Homeland Security to include, regional coordination and administration of numerous homeland security grants; exercise design and participation in the recently completed TOPOFF 2 Exercise; regional disaster response and mitigation planning processes for King County; construction and occupation of a new $30M Regional communications and emergency coordination center; and establishing multi-county mutual aid agreements. He also produces and hosts a monthly television show focusing on disaster prevention and response which is shown on over 25 local government cable channels. Immediately prior to assuming his position in King County he worked for the Washington State Division of Emergency Management for five years. While with Washington State Eric served in a number of increasingly responsible supervisory positions in the areas of training, public education, disaster exercises, plans and operations. Previously Eric completed a 20-year career in the US Army. While in the military, he served in a variety of demanding assignments in which he developed and managed operation centers. Additionally, in other positions he managed community training and developed emergency preparedness exercises. He is a graduate of Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Eric is a former President of the Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA). This is a group of public and private emergency managers dedicated to their profession of preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. He is also one of only 800 people designated nationwide as a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM). Eric is married to Mary (Brower) Holdeman. Their home is in Puyallup, Washington. He and his wife have two adult children, Elliot and Emily, and one grandson Cameron. Eric is also an avid gardener with his home garden being featured in several Sunset Magazine articles. |