Prior to 9/11, the function of local emergency management services (EMS), particularly in small and midsize communities, rested with the police, fire department, or chief administrative officer. Typically, the emergency management coordinator was a title bestowed upon a mid- to senior-level staffer as a collateral duty.

After 9/11, however, emergency management organizations began to proliferate. Colleges and universities developed emergency management degree programs, and the new profession of emergency management took off.

In 2001 there weren’t many experienced emergency managers, so as I stated before, the tendency was to assign the function to a police or fire agency. Sixteen years after 9/11, we are welcoming a highly educated, technologically savvy generation into the field of emergency management.

A New Candidate Pool

Many individuals have experiences outside the realm of a traditional first responder. Public safety leaders and managers must help prepare this next generation who will not come to the table with 15 or 20 years of firefighting, EMS, or law enforcement experience.

Succession planning is a function that shouldn't be considered just before or worse yet, after, the incumbent leaves the position. Those of us who will be retiring in the next few years need to be recruiting and grooming successors years in advance.

It is perfectly acceptable to identify future leaders in the early or mid-stage of their careers to mentor. Keep in mind that our communities are diverse and that the future leaders should reflect the demographic makeup of the residents being served.

Preparing non-first responders to become emergency managers may seem odd to the traditional police or fire officer. The candidate pool, however, is ripe with young, energetic, analytical talent who understand the value of coordination and collaboration—the core tenants of emergency management.

As a former boss once told me, "If you compare the field of emergency management to a Broadway production, the emergency manager is more like the producer or director; the fire and police officers are the stars of the show."

Let's find these producers and directors and help them become the next generation of emergency management leadership.