The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today celebrated the graduation of the third cadet class of the Texas Emergency Management Academy during a ceremony held at the Texas Capitol in Austin.
In the Capitol auditorium, Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd delivered the keynote address and congratulated the 23 cadets for successfully completing the emergency management workforce development program.
“Texans count on strong, compassionate leadership in times of need,” said Chief Kidd. “I’m proud of these driven individuals for committing themselves to the rigorous training, education, and skills offered through this world-class program.”
“These cadets are stepping into an honorable and vital profession—one that will call on them to support people through some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” Chief Kidd added.
Texas Commission on Fire Protection Chief Mike Wisko delivered remarks to the graduating class. Leadership from The Academy also spoke at the ceremony.
The Texas Emergency Management Academy, a first-of-its-kind program in the nation operated by TDEM, comprehensively trains the next generation of emergency management professionals in all phases of emergency management, including preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation.
"I am proud that these cadets were able to complete this one-of-a-kind program, and I look forward to their future success in the emergency management profession," said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. "Subject matter experts from the Texas A&M University System gladly helped instruct and mentor the newest generation of the emergency management workforce. This continued collaboration between agencies in the Texas A&M University System will only strengthen our ability to support Texans before, during, and after disasters”.
Graduates who successfully completed the eight-month Texas Emergency Management Academy received instruction from subject matter experts in areas such as emergency management planning, disaster finance, wildland firefighting, ambulance staging, Emergency Operations Center response management, hazard mitigation, risk assessments, disaster recovery, resource requests, operations technology, volunteer management, private sector partnerships, and other critical aspects of emergency management.
Academy graduates also earned multiple nationally recognized emergency management certifications, including FEMA’s Professional Development Series, Advanced Professional Series, Continuity Excellence Series Level I (Professional Continuity Practitioner), and the National Emergency Management Basic Academy.
In addition, graduates completed training as basic emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and achieved National Registry Certification.
Nearly 100 subject matter experts provided in-depth, hands-on, and classroom training throughout the program, using innovative emergency management technology tools and informative lectures to equip cadets with an advanced emergency management education.
Leveraging the capabilities of The Texas A&M University System, the first three cohorts of The Academy were based at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, with future cohorts also set to be based in Fort Worth. Many course instructors are affiliated with Texas A&M System agencies, including the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and TDEM.
Additional information about future Academy cadet classes is available at tdem.texas.gov/academy.
To watch a live stream of the graduation ceremony, click here.
.png)
.png)
