David Maxwell brings an extensive emergency management and disaster response career of over 40 years. His tenure at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management culminated in his appointment as Director, where he reported directly to the Governor of Arkansas and was responsible for various critical functions, including exercise development, strategic planning, emergency response, and recovery coordination.

As Director, David chaired several significant committees and councils, including the Arkansas Homeland Security Executive Committee and the State Emergency Response Commission. His role as the State Coordinating Officer for 24 federally declared disasters and one federally declared emergency under three different Governors highlights his expertise in managing large-scale emergencies. Additionally, David’s involvement with national organizations such as the National Emergency Management Association, where he served as President, and the Central United States Earthquake Consortium demonstrates his nationwide influence and leadership in emergency management.

David’s career in emergency management began with a focus on planning and operations, where he rapidly advanced from Planning Specialist to Plans and Operations Division Manager. In these roles, he was instrumental in ensuring that the State Emergency Operations Plan and local jurisdiction plans complied with State and federal guidelines. His expertise in individual assistance, public assistance, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been pivotal in his ability to lead successful response and recovery operations.

In addition to his distinguished public service career, David has contributed significantly to the field through his work with the Electric Infrastructure Security Council. Here, he has coordinated nongovernmental organizations and facilitated Black Sky exercises, focusing on long-term and wide-scale outages of the electrical grid. This international council has benefited from David’s vast experience in emergency management and homeland security.

David holds a master’s degree from Henderson State University and a bachelor’s from Arkansas Tech. His extensive training and certifications further underscore his comprehensive expertise. David’s career reflects a deep commitment to emergency management and homeland security, marked by significant state and national contributions.