TDEM Section Chief Erica McDowell Promoted to Assistant Chief for Northwest Texas Region

TDEM Section Chief Erica McDowell Promoted to Assistant Chief for Northwest Texas Region

New TDEM Region 1 covers the Texas Panhandle, South Plains, and Big Country

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today the promotion of Section Chief Erica McDowell to Assistant Chief for the newly-drawn TDEM Region 1.

“In her new role, Assistant Chief McDowell will continue to selflessly serve the State of Texas in Northwest Texas, as she has done for the past 6 years,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “I am confident in her ability to lead Region 1 and further our agency’s efforts to protect life and property in the communities we serve.”

Prior to serving as a TDEM Recovery and Mitigation Regional Section Chief since 2021, Erica McDowell was a TDEM District Coordinator for 4 years, and spent 14 years working as the Oldham County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Assistant Chief McDowell has extensive experience in all phases of emergency management, and has served on several local, regional, and statewide committees that support emergency management initiatives.

In 2022, she represented the State of Texas responding to Hurricane Ian in Florida, assisting with donations and volunteer management, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

She has a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Wayland Baptist University.

McDowell will be stationed in Lubbock.

TDEM now has 8 geographic regions, an increase from 6, to reflect and address our commitment to service delivery at the local level for emergencies and disasters throughout Texas. The new boundaries for TDEM Region 1 encompass Panhandle, South Plains, and Big Country.

Chief Kidd also announced the promotion of Section Chief Michael Bradberry to Assistant Chief of TDEM Region 3, which encompasses East Texas from the Red River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Assistant Chief Brandi Ashby, who served in Northwest Texas for the past 5 years, has transferred to the newly-created Region 8, headquartered in College Station.

Available positions at TDEM can be found at tdem.texas.gov/about/careers.