Susan Reinertson, FEMA’s regional administrator for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, will welcome participants and speak briefly about the new FEMA, our partnership with Alaska, area operations, and will briefly describe the afternoon grant workshop being presented by our fire grant specialist Mr. Brian Ipsen.

Susan Reinertson was appointed Regional Administrator of Region X for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in October 2006. She is responsible for coordinating FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in four states in the northwest -- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. She has experience in all aspects of emergency management and homeland security programs, communications and the legislative process. Ms. Reinertson comes to FEMA from the Homeland Security Institute in Arlington, Va., where, as an analyst, she coordinated project development of a system integrating local, state and territorial governments and the federal government to assess national preparedness. From 1997 to early 2006, Ms. Reinertson worked for the State of North Dakota - Office of the Adjutant General. Her most recent position there was Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. She directed a $57 million budget and was responsible for the statewide homeland security and emergency management strategic plan. Earlier, as Deputy Director, she coordinated, implemented, maintained and evaluated statewide homeland security, communications and emergency management programs and handled budgetary responsibilities. Her experience also includes positions as Operations and Planning Officer, Public Assistance Officer and Alternate State Coordinating Officer. Ms. Reinertson received both a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Dakota. She also earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense) from the Naval Postgraduate School in California.