Gary Schenkel
From 2011 to 2016, Gary Schenkel, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps with 29 years of service, served as the Executive Director for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). Under his supervision the office fielded more than 5 million 911 calls and over 4 million 311 calls annually. Mr. Schenkel was responsible for the coordination of City events that exceeded 1 million participants including the NATO Summit in 2012. Mr. Schenkel also oversaw the City’s data repository system and integration of Public Safety and Public Works data and acted as the City Administrator of all DHS Grants and Homeland Security responsibilities. Prior to this role, Director Schenkel served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for State and local Law Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. During his tenure, he acted as the Department’s direct representative to State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Associations where he implemented policy and coordinated law enforcement efforts between the Department of Justice, Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Schenkel was the National Director, Federal Protective Services for the Department of Homeland Security from 2007 to 2010. Here, he oversaw this $1.3 billion federal law enforcement agency and was responsible for risk based analysis of criminal and terrorist threats to federal facilities, recommending appropriate countermeasures, awarding contracts, monitoring performance, replacing and maintaining security equipment, communications and preparing strategic operational and business plans.
Gary Schenkel also served as the Assistant Federal Security Director, Transportation Security Administration, Chicago Midway Airport from 2004 to 2007 where he was responsible for supervising the daily operations as well as capital improvement projects, and oversight of Screening and Regulatory operations at the Category 1 facility which serviced more than ten million passengers and 155,000 flights per year. In preceding roles, Director Schenkel worked as the Assistant Deputy Superintendent and Acting Deputy Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. As Assistant Deputy Superintendent, he managed a budget of $17 million and was responsible for the development and training initiatives for more than fifteen thousand employees of the Chicago Police Department and divisions which included the Chicago Fire Department and the Office of Emergency Management. During his tenure in this position, Mr. Schenkel also served on the Board of Directors for the State of Illinois Law Enforcement Standards and Training Board which is responsible for the promulgation of state law, the review of state law grants. As Acting Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Schenkel managed a $23 million budget and was responsible for the Education and Training Division, the Management of and Labor Affairs Section, the Special Activities Division and O’Hare Field and Midway Airport. At this time, Mr. Schenkel was designated as the Department’s representative to lead all anti-terrorism activities. Before his retirement from the Marine Corps in 2000, Schenkel served as the Operations Officer at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Lindenwood College and a Master degree in Public Affairs from California State University and has earned multiple certifications in areas that include Dynamics of International Terrorism and National Incident Management System training.
