Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announces Robert Hess as the city’s Emergency Management Coordinator. Hess brings a wealth of experience in emergency preparedness and response, having held significant roles in both federal and military organizations.
In his new role, Hess will oversee all aspects of the city’s emergency management program, ensuring the safety and preparedness of Pensacola residents in the event of natural disasters, technological incidents, and other emergencies.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Robert Hess join our team,” said Mayor Reeves. “His experience and understanding of emergency management will be invaluable in strengthening our city’s preparedness and response capabilities, ultimately enhancing the safety and resilience of our community.”
Hess will work under Pensacola Fire Chief Ginny Cranor’s supervision.
Before joining the City of Pensacola, Hess served as the Emergency Management Branch Chief for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District. In this capacity, he was the principal advisor on matters related to natural and technological disasters, national security emergencies, civil disturbances, and terrorism activities, managing the district’s emergency management program across a 68,000-square-mile area.
Prior to his time with USACE, Hess served as the Deputy Chief of the Emergency Management and Force Readiness Department at the United States Coast Guard Sector Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. There, he was instrumental in implementing and enforcing various maritime security authorities, including the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, for an area covering five deep-water ports in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Hess’s extensive career also includes 27 years of service with the U.S. Coast Guard, from which he retired in 2016. His assignments included serving as the Deepwater Horizon branch director, USCG State of Alabama Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer, and Hurricane Katrina Operations section chief.
A native of Indiana, Hess is a highly qualified instructor in fire, Emergency Management Services, Incident Command System, and Federal Emergency Management Agency training. Additionally, Hess is a paramedic and career firefighter, as well as an adjunct professor at the Alabama Fire College, where he is authorized to teach specialized HAZMAT certification courses. He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice management.
