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David Maxwell


Tina Owens

Director's Office

David Maxwell
Mr. David Maxwell was appointed on June 30, 2006 as Director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and State Homeland Security Adviser. He served as ADEM’s Deputy Director from March 2002 until this appointment. He has over 33 years of service with the agency.

As Director, Maxwell chairs the Arkansas Homeland Security Executive Committee and serves on the Arkansas Terrorism Task Force, Arkansas Governor’s Earthquake Advisory Council, Arkansas Fire Protection Board, State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Executive Committee, and Arkansas Tech Emergency Administration and Management Citizens Advisory Council. In October 2009, David served a one year term as 2010 President of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and now serves as an advisor to the current NEMA president, chairs the NEMA Response and Recovery Committee, as well as chairing a working group between NEMA and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). Additionally, David serves on the Board of Directors of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisors Council for which he chairs the Catastrophic Disaster and Preparedness Committee.

In 1978, he began his career in emergency management working in temporary housing for the State after major flooding in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was promoted to Planning Specialist in 1980. Later he advanced to ADEM’s Plans and Operations Division Manager. In that capacity, he ensured the State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and local jurisdictional plans were maintained and in compliance with state and federal guidelines. Mr. Maxwell led the division in its mission of coordinating state response and recovery operations, collaborating with federal and local governments, and volunteer agencies with disaster response or recovery responsibilities. David Maxwell served as the designated State Coordinating Officer for ten federally declared disasters and one federally declared emergency.

David Maxwell has a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas with a Bachelor’s Degree from Arkansas Tech University. David and his wife Lauren reside in Conway, Arkansas.



Tina Owens
Tina Owens is the Deputy Director for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). She began her career in emergency management in 1996 as the administrative assistant to the Plans & Operations Division. Tina advanced to a Planning Specialist position in 1999 and the Preparedness Division Director in 2006; within those positions she assisted in updating the State and County Emergency Operations Plans in coordination with state agency liaisons and local governments. She also coordinated the grants program for the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), now the Department of Homeland Security, overseeing the receipt of more than $110,000,000 for the State of Arkansas. In 2007 Tina was promoted to the Administration Division Director where she continued to work with state liaisons as well as local county governments along with overseeing the agency’s State and Federal budgets.

Tina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway in 1991. Tina, her husband James and son Quinn reside in Vilonia, Arkansas.



Director's Office Staff
The Director's office staff includes an Executive Officer, a Public Information Coordinator, a Public Information Officer and two Executive Administrative Assistants. This office serves as liaison between ADEM and the 77 local offices of emergency management, and is responsible for establishment and administration of policies and procedures governing emergency management in Arkansas. Responsibilities include review and execution of agreements, contracts, and other documents between state and federal authorities for provision of funds and services related to emergency management programs. The Director’s Office also coordinates with senior officials of federal, state, and local governments and the private sector with roles and responsibilities for emergency management

The Executive Officer focuses on the development and continuous update of the agency’s Continuity of Government (COG) plan to help ensure state and local government entities are prepared to continue operations in the event of a disaster or medical crises disrupting normal operations. The Executive Officer has led efforts towards accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). Due to an unprecedented number of disasters in this state, the Executive Officer has also worked several months augmenting ADEM Area Coordinators in the Public Assistance Program as needed during times of disaster.

Public Information staff serves as a point of contact for the public and media. They prepare news releases and handle media requests. Educational materials are either prepared by or coordinated through Public Information and distributed to the public through fairs, conferences and workshops. Educational materials are also sent to local emergency managers for presentation to the public in an effort to inform and better prepare our citizens. Public Information staff coordinates speaking engagements, addressing emergency management topics particular to the needs of the requesting group.