Thomas Muñoz, OEM Deputy Director, has been tapped for the prestigious spot on the FEMA National Advisory Council.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said, "Houston is a leading voice regarding preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation", as mentioned by the City of Houston. and that Muñoz's guidance to FEMA Director Deanne Criswell will be nothing short of unique and invaluable.
Starting his term come December 1, Muñoz, in a statement quoted by the official announcement, expressed his humility over the selection: "I am humbled to have been selected for such an important position." The man's sterling resume is a laundry list of public service gigs including helming emergency management in Texas City, as an Assistant Chief of Homeland Security, and Planning with the Houston Fire Department. Muñoz has served as the leader of Houston OEM since September 2021 and was also in the Coast Guard, where he showed his stripes as a Deputy Incident Commander for more than a handful of operations.
George Buenik, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, didn't mince words when he talked up Munoz's aptitude: "Chief Muñoz has been a great addition to the Public Safety and Homeland Security leadership. I am not surprised that someone with his talents and dedication would be chosen for a role like this. I know he will represent this City well in his new appointment", according to the city's announcement.
