Todd Smith Jacksonville Emergency Manager, Fire and Rescue Director Dr. Todd Alan Smith is a published executive with many decades of experience in government relations, public safety, and emergency management. He has focused on protecting communities and improving public administration at the local, state, and national levels. He has worked closely with elected officials and private-sector leaders to develop safety plans, strengthen emergency preparedness, and support legislative measures that address residents' and families' needs. Dr. Smith's professional career includes positions such as Emergency Manager, Fire and Rescue Director, Division Chief, Special Security Coordinator, and Metropolitan Statistical Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Administrator. In these roles, he has developed major emergency preparedness programs and supported diversity and inclusion initiatives to improve the effectiveness of emergency operations. Todd Smith of Jacksonville holds several academic degrees and qualifications, including a Ph.D. in Public Administration with High Academic Distinction, a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), a Graduate Executive Certificate in Public Administration, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. His education has provided a foundation for his responsibilities in public safety administration and emergency management.
Todd A Smith of Jacksonville is the only public safety executive nationwide who simultaneously and currently holds professional designations as Chief Fire Officer (CFO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) from the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), and Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) from FEMA’s National Emergency Training Center (NETC). He also holds State of Florida Fire Officer I through IV and National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) Fire Officer I through IV credentials. He is credentialed in every Incident Command (IC) and General Staff (C&G) position by the State of Florida All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) and certified to instruct all FEMA Incident Command (IC) and General Staff (C&G) position courses. The State of Florida has officially recognized and qualified Dr. Smith for seven Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Leadership and Section positions through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Historical Recognition process, under the Florida Qualification System (FQS). These include EOC Manager, EOC Finance Section Coordinator, EOC Logistics Section Coordinator, EOC Operations Section Coordinator, EOC Planning Section Coordinator, EOC Branch Director, and EOC Public Information Officer. These qualifications reflect his years of emergency management experience, education, training, and leadership. Dr. Todd Alan Smith entered public service in 1992 and progressed through the fire and rescue ranks. He served as Special Operations Training Manager for the JFRD Urban Search and Rescue Team, Wildland Urban Interface Team, HAZMAT, Airport Firefighting, and Shipboard Firefighting. He has earned numerous awards and special unit citations, including the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company’s Valor and Exceptional Service Award and the Columbia Southern University Robert G. Mayes Excellence Award.