Dennis Hunsinger, Ph.D.

Deputy Administrator, Region X

Photo of Acting Regional Director, Region X Dennis Hunsinger, Ph.D.

As the Deputy Regional Administrator, Dr. Hunsinger is responsible for coordinating FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. He assumed his present position on April 30, 2006.

From October 2005 to April 2006, he served as the Acting Response and Recovery Division Director where he was responsible for Public Assistance (emergency protective measures, repair, replacement, or restoration of state, local, tribes, and certain non-profit organization facilities), Human Services (programs to help individuals and households recover), and Response Operations (regional operations center, and region's capability for immediate life-saving/sustaining response).

From September 2002 through April 2006, he served as the Director of Region 10's National Preparedness Division where he was responsible for preparing the region to handle the consequences of all hazards, including acts of terrorism. In this capacity, he provided emergency operations planning guidance, and oversaw the region's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) program. He also led FEMA's participation in interagency exercises, assessments, and HAZMAT activities.

Dr. Hunsinger came to FEMA as a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) in April 2002. He was immediately assigned to a tornado recovery operation in Southeast Missouri serving as the Special Assistant to the FCO. From June through August 2002, he served as Deputy FCO and then FCO for a flood recovery operation within the State of Alaska. He has since served as FCO for winter storm disasters in Alaska (2005) and Idaho (2006).

On February 1, 2002, Dr. Hunsinger completed a highly successful career as an Air Force Colonel. For almost 29 years he served in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility. As a four-time Chief of Police, Dr. Hunsinger served most notably in that role at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs and again at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. He has also commanded two Air Force groups. First, as the "base commander" of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he served as commander of the 89th Support Group; and then again when he was deployed to the Sultanate of Oman as commander of an Air Expeditionary Group where he led a flying operation in support of the no-fly zone over Iraq.

He has served as Chief of Counterterrorism for the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific, and during one of his two tours in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Hunsinger wrote and published DOD's policy and procedures for combating terrorism that are still in effect today. Following the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, he deployed to the Arabian Peninsula to rebuild U.S. security and to ensure consistency and implementation of the DOD policy he had written. In his last assignment in the Air Force, he served as Director of Security for the Air Mobility Command, where he was responsible for security and law enforcement for 12 Air Force bases and a force of over 5,000.

Dr. Hunsinger has gained significant experience throughout his Air Force career in the area of disaster and emergency "first-responder" response. He has directed disaster response operations in Colorado, Washington, and Maryland. He has also led large-scale deployments in response to major aircraft crashes, industrial hazardous spills, nuclear accident exercises and natural disasters.

During his military career he was awarded the Defense Superior Service medal, the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and various other Service awards and decorations.

Born in San Bernardino, California, Dr. Hunsinger graduated from Langley High School in Langley, Washington. He then earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in criminal justice administration from Chapman University in Orange, California.

He also holds a doctorate in sociology from The American University in Washington D.C., and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 140th session. He and his wife, Jeanne, live in Langley, Washington.

Last Modified: Friday, 28-Sep-2007 12:04:39 EDT