Edward G. Buikema

Regional Administrator - Region V

Photograph of Edward G. Buikema

Edward G. Buikema is the regional administrator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V in November 2001. He coordinates the broad range of FEMA activities involving prevention, protection, preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation both before and after federally declared disasters in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

During his tenure as Regional Administrator, Mr. Buikema has overseen the delivery of disaster relief assistance in more than 50 major federal disasters and emergencies. He coordinated FEMA's regional activities in the TOPOff 2 exercise in the City of Chicago and served as the deputy Principal Federal Official (PFO) in the TOPOff 3 exercise in New London, Connecticut, and at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.

From February 2005 through October 2005, Mr. Buikema served as the acting director of FEMA's Response Division. In that position, he was responsible for leadership and administration of Response Division programs, including the National Disaster Medical System, the Urban Search and Rescue System, the Mobile Emergency Response Detachments, the Territorial Logistics Centers, the National Response Coordination Center, and the temporary disaster workforce.

Prior to his FEMA position, Mr. Buikema was commander of the Emergency Management Division of the Michigan State Police. In this position, he was responsible for leadership and coordination of the state's emergency management program and served as the state coordinating officer and governor's authorized representative for nine presidential disaster declarations. Mr. Buikema also served as chair of the Michigan Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Commission, the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Coordinating Council, and Michigan's Anti-Terrorism Task Force. He was an officer with the Michigan State Police for more than 26 years, serving in the Emergency Management Division for 19 of those years and has been active in a number of national and state associations and organizations.

Mr. Buikema is Chair of the executive committee of the Chicago Federal Executive Board, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1600) technical committee, the executive board of the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, and past chair of the Emergency Management Accreditation Program Commission.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Buikema holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Aug-2008 11:35:33 EDT