By Tim Manning, Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness
Recently, Administrator Fugate announced the retirement of Dr. Christopher Todd Jones, the superintendent of the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Ala.
Todd joined the FEMA family as CDP’s superintendent in 2008. During his four years in Anniston, Todd has continued to build on the CDP’s reputation as the premier training institution for our nation’s emergency responders and receivers. Todd improved our nation’s preparedness by spearheading a significant project that safely introduced biological agents to the existing nerve agent training at CDP’s Chemical, Ordnance, Biological, and Radiological Training Facility. Thanks to Todd’s leadership and the hard work of his staff, FEMA is now training first responders to safely enter biologically contaminated environments while protecting themselves and saving lives in their own communities.
Todd’s leadership resulted in the opening of a newly renovated emergency department inside the CDP’s Noble Training Facility, benefiting the 12,000 responders who go through resident training at the CDP each year. The renovations provide a modern, state-of-the art setting for healthcare personnel to train for mass casualty events.
Todd also led several other improvements and innovations. He initiated more than 16 building projects to enhance training venues, improve energy efficiency and increase the durability of CDP’s critical facilities.
Todd has consistently looked for ways to increase the efficient use of resources to ensure responders received the best training possible. He’s overseen complicated contracting actions and led the way in FEMA’s efforts to save taxpayer resources by in-sourcing several key job functions at the CDP.
During his four years in Anniston, the CDP trained more than 336,000 emergency responders. As the deputy administrator for Protection and National Preparedness, I am proud of Todd’s many accomplishments and I’m grateful for his leadership. He leaves the CDP having successfully led a team of skilled professionals dedicated to national preparedness.
Please join me in wishing Todd and his family farewell as he joins the retired ranks on June 2.