SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro is pleased to announce Emergency Management Agency Director Thomas Smoot completed the Master’s Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) on September 27, 2024.
Throughout the hybrid program, Smoot collaborated with homeland security officials from across the nation on current policy, strategy, and organizational design challenges. The NPS-CHDS students represent a snapshot of the homeland security enterprise, including professionals from the fields of emergency management, education, law enforcement, fire service, homeland security, public health, and city/county government.
“We are incredibly proud of Thomas and this significant accomplishment. He dedicated 18 months to enhancing his skills and knowledge and is one of only 1500 professionals in the country to have completed this program. I know Summit County is now even more prepared to prevent and respond to threats,” said County Executive Shapiro.
In his role as Deputy Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management Agency, Smoot oversees, develops, and coordinates efforts to deliver programs to Summit County’s 31 communities to enhance safety and well-being. He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) and has worked in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security field for 20 years. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University.
Located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), CHDS is the nation’s homeland security educator. CHDS program participants develop critical thinking, leadership, and policy skills. CHDS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For information, visit www.chds.us.
