Robert L. Flowers Named Director Of FEMA's Region VIII 

Release Date: July 31, 2006
Release Number: R8-06-114

» 2006 Region VIII News Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Robert Lee Flowers has been appointed Director in Region VIII of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Director David Paulison announced today.

Mr. Flowers, who officially joins FEMA on Monday, August 7, will be responsible for coordinating FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

“Bob is very knowledgeable of the Rocky Mountain region and our regional office will benefit greatly from his leadership,” said Paulison. “He brings broad experience in coordinating with state, local and federal officials across all hazards, which is exactly what is essential.”

He joins FEMA after serving as Commissioner of Utah’s Department of Public Safety (DPS). He was appointed to that position in 2000 and reappointed in 2005 because of his proven track record serving as the lead emergency management and public safety officer in the state.

Mr. Flowers served as security director for the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he was responsible for more than 11,000 federal, state and local officials. As Commissioner of the Utah DPS, Mr. Flowers managed Utah’s Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigations, Fire Marshall Division, Homeland Security Bureau, Intermountain Training and Education Center and Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security.

Previously, Mr. Flowers served as Chief of Police in St. George, Utah, based along the state line of Arizona and Utah. He began a 16-year career in the Utah DPS as a trooper, and later as academy staff member, sergeant and lieutenant.

A native of Ivan, Utah, Mr. Flowers holds a Master’s in Homeland Defense and Security from the Naval Post Graduate School (Monterey, California) and a bachelors of science from the University of Utah. He has participated in nearly 200 sessions at the FBI’s National Academy in Quantico, Va.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 01-Aug-2006 14:37:50