At its annual conference, the Emergency Management Association of Georgia named Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency Director Spencer Hawkins the 2018 EMA Director of the Year. To see a video of the announcement on the Macon-Bibb County EMA Facebook page, click here.
“I am both honored and humbled by this recognition; serving the central Georgia community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” says Spencer. “None of this would have been possible without my talented EMA staff and emergency partners in Macon-Bibb County, and my amazing family supporting me at home.”
Spencer received letters of nomination from Mayor Robert Reichert, Sheriff David Davis, Fire Chief Marvin Riggins, EMA Deputy Director Robert McCord, Assistant to the County Manager for Public Affairs Chris Floore, Public Works Director Marvin Land, Recreation Director Robert Walker, and Parks & Beautification Director Sam Kitchens.
From outside Macon-Bibb government, he received nomination letters from Navicent Health, Georgia Power, the Macon Water Authority, the Salvation Army of Central Georgia, 13WMAZ, 41NBC/WMGT, WGXA, Highland Hills Baptist Church, and several EMA Directors from around the state.
The award is given to an EMA Director who demonstrates leadership qualities (identified by nomination letters), has held the position of director for a minimum of four years, has been a member of EMAG for two years, and attends the conferences and at least 80% of all area meetings.
About Spencer Hawkins
Spencer Hawkins is not only the EMA Director for Macon-Bibb County but also a dedicated husband and father of three young children. As a youth he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and since then he has continued to receive various other community leadership awards. Most recently in 2017, Spencer was honored by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce for his community leadership with the Charles Jay Fellow Award.
Spencer has spent 18 years as a professional emergency manager working in all levels of government, and the private sector. In 2015, he was appointed as Director of the Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency. Prior to Macon-Bibb, he was Vice President of Crisis Management for PNC Bank. Spencer spent four and half years working in Washington, DC for the Army and Navy developing emergency management policies. He spent 10 years in central Florida with Orange County Emergency Management, Florida Department of Health Emergency Operations, and City of Orlando Emergency Management. Throughout his career, Spencer has served with the Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System.
Spencer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and a Master’s in Criminal Justice, both from the University of Central Florida. He is a Certified Emergency Manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers and the State of Georgia, and a Master Exercise Practitioner with FEMA.