Scott Zaffram is currently acting as the Deputy Regional Administrator for Region 10, which is comprised of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, in addition to 271 federally recognized tribes. In his regular capacity, Mr. Zaffram is the Federal Preparedness Coordinator and Director of the National Preparedness Division within Region 10.
He provides leadership, counsel, and coordination to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions, first responder networks, non-governmental organizations, private-sector, and citizen group partners that enables increased disaster capability and resiliency throughout the region. Scott has focused on building stakeholder partnerships, enhancing whole-community resiliency to emergencies that break through the divide of those disproportionally impacted and underserved, while instilling a strong sense of customer service excellence and pride in his team’s delivery methods.
In support of the 2021 Presential transition, Scott served as the acting Deputy Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 10 from June 2021 to March 2022 while the Regional political appointee was identified, vetted, and onboarded. During this detail, Scott was successful in providing stability and improvements to Regional business operations and disaster support activities while the world responded to a global pandemic.
Scott started his career with FEMA in 2007 in the training department where he later served as the regional training manager and continued in that role until 2014, where he was given the opportunity to serve as branch chief of training, exercises, and continuity of operations programs. Scott served as a lead federal planning architect for the national-level Cascadia Rising 2016 exercise that included 23,000 whole-community participants.
In disaster operations, Scott has held various leadership roles for response and recovery operations on notable Presidential declared disasters with FEMA, including Hurricane Ian, FL (2022), COVID-19 (2020-2022), Hurricane Florence, NC (2018), Hurricane Olivia, HI (2018), Hurricane Maria, PR (2017); Hurricane Irma, FL (2017); Hurricane Harvey, TX (2017); Hurricane Sandy, NY & NJ (2012); Hurricane Ike, TX (2008); and, Hurricane Dean, TX (2007) – to name a few. Scott has predominately served in roles that directly engage and coordinate with county and local officials, first-responders, and citizens in the early critical stages of a disaster, offering technical assistance and advisement that have resulted in positive outcomes for these jurisdictions and survivors.
Hired in 2002 as a security supervisor for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Scott was critical in the rollout of Federal screening operations after the 9/11 attacks. In 1997 Scott enlisted into the United States Army and served 4 years on active duty as an Infantryman, which included rotations to Fort Lewis, Washington; Camp Casey, South Korea; and, Friedberg, Germany.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and awarded the Certified Emergency Manager credential.