Governor O'Malley Appoints Richard G. Muth as State Director of Emergency Management
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 20, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the appointment of Mr. Richard G. Muth as director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Muth, who is currently the director of the Baltimore County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will replace John W. Droneburg, III. The appointment is effective June 1.
“I am honored to appoint Richard Muth as director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency,” said Governor O’Malley. “Richard is a seasoned emergency manager and has for more than 15 years led the emergency management program of Baltimore County. He is highly respected in the emergency management community, and I know he will continue the great strides made in preparing MEMA and Maryland for the next emergency or disaster – the professionals of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency are in superb hands.”
“I want to thank John Droneburg for his commitment and dedication to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and to the State of Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley. “John’s leadership has made MEMA better prepared to handle any state emergency, and I wish him well in his new ventures.”
For more than 33 years, Muth has been a member of the Baltimore County Fire Department. He has been responsible for the administration of the Office of Emergency Preparedness for Baltimore County since 1993. In March of 2003, Muth was appointed Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Baltimore County. In this position, he provided Baltimore County residents with a broad range of emergency management services, including the administration of homeland security, the hazardous materials program, advanced tactical rescue and fire department communications. Director Muth has conducted presentations in the areas of homeland security, personal preparedness, continuity of operations planning and related topics at many different levels of government. He also is heavily involved with the American Red Cross from which he received an award in 1998.
Director Muth has served the Maryland Emergency Management Association in various capacities over the past ten years including Area II (Central Maryland) chairman, vice-president, and two terms as president. In July 2000 he was appointed to serve as vice-chairman of the Governor’s Emergency Management Advisory Council (GEMAC). In February 2003, Director Muth was re-appointed to the GEMAC and currently serves as the chairman of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). He was appointed as chairman of GEMAC in the fall of 2007.
Some of Director Muth’s recent accomplishments include serving as Emergency Management Chairperson for the Domestic Preparedness Chemical Team that is a major component of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Program within the Department of Defense. In 2002, he was certified by the Department of Justice as a Weapons of Mass Destruction general instructor. He has served as the lead communications specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (PA-TF-1). In 1998, Muth was awarded a Governor’s Citation for serving as the on-scene coordinator for Maryland resources in the State of Florida in combating wildland fires. Muth also chaired the Baltimore Metro Council Y2K contingency planning group for area-wide Y2K coordination.
Immediately following Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact on the Gulf Coast, Muth oversaw the State of Maryland’s response. Providing direction and leadership, he coordinated resources from Maryland to assist in the recovery efforts.
Muth was recently selected to oversee Baltimore County’s new public safety digital communication system. This is a multi-year $57 million project which will replace the current 800 MHZ analog trunked radio system.
MEMA is a state agency whose mission is to protect lives, property and the environment of its citizens by providing emergency management leadership and coordination of response. This nationally accredited agency is responsible for coordinating the use of Maryland’s resources during emergencies and disasters in support of its 26 local jurisdictions (23 counties, Annapolis, Baltimore City and Ocean City).
