Welcome to the CalChiefs Emergency Management (EM) Section website. My name is Justin Matsushita, and I have the privilege of serving as the President of this continually growing section filled with an incredibly dedicated group of EM professionals from throughout the State of California. I recently retired from the City of Santee Fire Department where I served as the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager. This section remains one of the newest of CalChiefs, and I have been fortunate to follow in the footsteps of past presidents Deputy Chief Brian Helmick and Fire Chief Frank Frievalt. Both individuals were instrumental during the incipient phases of this section, and they would be proud of the progress our group continues to make related to advocacy for our EM community.

The emergency management profession plays a critical role in safeguarding communities across California and the United States by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters of all types. In California, where earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and droughts are persistent threats, emergency managers are at the forefront of coordinating multi-agency responses, ensuring resources are efficiently allocated, and communicating risks to the public. The aim of the EM Section is to foster collaboration to better assist in building community resilience. The ability to adapt to evolving threats makes the profession indispensable to public safety and homeland security across the United States.

The EM Section needs your support, participation, and expertise to truly improve outcomes on a large scale. We welcome all EM professionals to join our section and help us better protect the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Justin Matsushita, PhD