About > People > Lacy E. Suiter

Mr. Suiter is one of the most experienced leaders in homeland security and domestic preparedness in the United States. For 30 years, he was a state director of emergency management and served as President of the National Emergency Management Association. From 1994-2001, Suiter was the senior executive at the Federal Emergency Management Agency responsible for response and recovery from natural disasters and acts of terrorism. He was responsible for FEMA's support to state and local governments and served as the chair of the Catastrophic Disaster Response Group (CDRG). Suiter directed FEMA's terrorism preparedness and planning activities and has led several terrorism exercises throughout the United States.

Since 2002, Suiter has served as a consultant to federal, state and local governments and industry on homeland security, support to counterterrorism operations, and disaster response and recovery operations. He is providing Washington representation to the National Emergency Management Association, the state directors of emergency management.

From 1994 - 2001, Suiter served as the Executive Associate Director for the Response and Recovery Directorate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In this capacity, Suiter was responsible for planning and executing the federal government's response to major disasters and emergencies. Further, he was responsible for the multi-billion dollar Individual and Public Assistance Grant Programs authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288, as amended).

Before joining FEMA in 1994, Suiter spent 30 years as a career employee of the Tennessee Emergency management Agency, and served as Director of the agency for the last 12 years of his tenure.

Suiter has led or served on the Board of Directors of dozens of organizations in the emergency management field. They include the National Academy of Science's Board on Natural Disasters, the Advisory Board of the University of Colorado's Natural hazards Center, the peer Review Committee of the Yucca Mountain High level Radioactive Disposal Project, and the Latin American Partnership. Mr. Suiter also chaired the Central United States Earthquake Consortium from 1983 to 1994 and was President of the National Emergency Management Association in 1985-85.

Mr. Suiter earned a B.S. in General Business from Middle Tennessee State University. He is retired from the Tennessee Air National Guard.