James K. Joseph

In his capacity as IEMA Director and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor, Mr. Joseph is responsible for leading Illinois’ disaster preparedness and response, nuclear safety, and homeland security programs.  The agency is made up of over 200 employees with an annual budget of $485 Million.  Since his appointment as IEMA Director, Mr. Joseph has implemented successful turnaround strategies that have served to enhance IEMA’s ability to fulfill its important responsibilities and help the agency deliver exceptional customer service, streamline operations, eliminate duplicative efforts and boost efficiency.  All of these efforts have served to enhance the readiness posture of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the overall level of preparedness in the great state of Illinois.  James has been appointed to serve as the Chair of the Homeland Security Committee for the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and is responsible for identifying and addressing the complex homeland security issues facing our nation today.  He is a forward thinking emergency manager.