Our very own Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director, Spencer Hawkins, was recently recognized at a national level for his efforts in making our community and nation a better place. On November 20, he was awarded the International Association Emergency Managers (IAEM) 2024 Presidential Citation by IAEM-USA President Carrie Speranza for his efforts in leading IAEM’s grassroots campaign focused on the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) funding shortfalls. 

“I am so grateful to be recognized by IAEM President Carrie Speranza for my efforts in supporting the National Weather Service,” said Hawkins. “I highly respect my colleagues in IAEM and to be singled out at our annual conference was a true highlight in my career.” 

A year ago, Hawkins learned that the NWS was in danger of losing a significant amount of their operational funding from Congress. He worked with NWS leadership and IAEM leadership to put together a grassroots campaign that would make elected officials aware of the criticality of the National Weather Service in the field of Emergency Management.  

“I organized an e-mail, phone call, and letter writing campaign with emergency managers across the country to contact their elected officials and share local stories on how the National Weather Service worked to provide lifesaving information to emergency managers that in turn kept the community safe,” said Hawkins. “Ultimately, this campaign was successful.” 

 The NWS funding was restored by Congress. Hawkins was recognized at the IAEM Awards Banquet during the annual conference in Colorado in front of his peers from across the nation. 

“We are continuing our efforts to ensure that this vital agency receive received the funding that it needs to continue to provide lifesaving science to forecast dangerous weather,” said Hawkins.