PRESS RELEASE:

The Scott County Emergency Management Commission is proud to announce that Brian Payne, Scott County Emergency Management Director, has been named by the Iowa Emergency Management Association as the Emergency Manager of the Year.

This award was created to recognize the accomplishments of an Emergency Management Professional whose actions over the past year have significantly advanced the profession in Iowa.  It recognizes individuals who demonstrate selfless dedication and whose efforts have led to lasting improvements in preparedness, response or recovery capabilities both within their local community and across Iowa. Recipients of this award are those whose contributions are expected to have a long lasting, meaningful and positive impact on the field of emergency management in Iowa.

 

Payne was nominated for this award by several of his peers, who noted:

“Brian Payne is working to make our state and our industry better as a whole…he is always offering to help others, offering guidance and mentorship.”

“[Payne] serves his community, while also serving the state by being an information resource center [for] the largest county in Southeast Iowa… Brian’s impact as a leader, teacher and mentor to the field of Emergency Management in the Sate of Iowa will have a long-lasting impact to the next generation of coordinators.”

 

Under Payne’s direction, Scott County Emergency Management has made significant strides in the continued development and evolution of emergency management services in the area. From the establishing and strengthening of cross-sector relationships, the development of an Incident Command System training regime for local first responders to the creation of graphic information systems (GIS) based tools to provide situational awareness, Payne’s innovation and resourceful planning have helped to grow an emergency management program optimized to serve all Scott County residents into the future.

Director Payne noted “I am honored to be recognized for such a distinguished award, and it has been a privilege to serve the residents of Scott County. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support and direction of the Scott County Emergency Management Commission and the staff at Scott County Emergency Management Agency.”

 

Payne began his career with Scott County Emergency Management in 2017 as a planning specialist. He was named Deputy Director of the Agency in 2019, and appointed Emergency Management Director in 2023.

 

About Scott County Emergency Management:

The Scott Emergency Management Commission is comprised of each Mayor (or an appointed Council Member) of a Scott County municipal jurisdiction, one member of the Board of Supervisors, and the Sheriff. The Commission oversees the Emergency Management Agency, which is tasked with the duty of assisting citizens and their communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and eliminate or reduce the effects of natural, man-made, civil, and technological emergencies or disasters. For more information, please visit https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/ema