Leigh Deskins serves as IEM’s Director of Response. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in disaster response spanning local, state, and federal agencies, Ms. Deskins has continually delivered exceptional client results since joining IEM in 2019.

As Director, she leads IEM’s response operations, drawing upon her proven track record. She has expertly managed several response and recovery projects nationwide, delivering exceptional support for Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff augmentation, surge staffing, and federal grant and public assistance technical support.

Her leadership was vital during deployments for major hurricanes across the Southeast, wildfires in California, and the COVID-19 pandemic response in major U.S. cities and several states. In 2025, she received the IEM President’s Excellence Award for her significant contributions.

Before her role at IEM, Ms. Deskins honed her emergency management leadership skillset with Pasco County, Florida, and frequently deployed on behalf of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). She played a key role during significant events like Hurricanes Hermine, Matthew, and Michael, showcasing her commitment to response and recovery efforts across the state. Additionally, Ms. Deskins has actively responded to countless undeclared disasters through mutual aid agreements and has been instrumental in introducing pivotal emergency preparedness initiatives, Incident Command System (ICS) training, All-Hazards Incident Management Teams, and proactive financial recovery processes.

Ms. Deskins is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) through the International Association of Emergency Managers. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Liberal Arts in Emergency Management from the University of South Florida, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, Geography, and GIS from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.