Gov. Phil Bryant Appoints Robert R. Latham Jr. MEMA Executive Director
From: Office of the Governor 1/14/12 GCN
Pearl – Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Robert R. Latham Jr. as the new Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director following the retirement of former director Mike Womack.
This is Latham’s second time as MEMA Executive Director. He led from February 2000 through July 2006, including during Hurricane Katrina the nation’s worst natural disaster.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to rejoin and lead the staff at MEMA after several years in the private sector,” said Latham. “This agency has some of the brightest minds in the emergency management community and we will work hard to continue the great progress in response and recovery they have made over the past several years.”
Prior to joining MEMA in 2000 Latham was
the local director of the Tate County Emergency Management Agency. He
also brings more than 20 years of fire service and Mississippi Army
National Guard experience to the position.
“My top priorities for MEMA are based on
building strong relationships and promoting individual and family
preparedness,” said Latham. “I want to strengthen the relationship with
our local emergency management agencies and local governments, while
working to motivate more of our residents to be prepared for the next
disaster. At the end of the day the role of government should be to help
those who are not able to help themselves. We all share some
responsibility when it comes to being prepared.”
Another priority for Latham is to look to
the private sector and faith-based organizations to improve the state’s
capabilities to respond to and prepare for disasters.
Latham has spent the past five years
working as an emergency management and homeland security consultant
working with local, state and federal government entities as well as
private companies.
For more information on winter weather
preparedness, visit MEMA online at
www.msema.org.