DONALD L. ALLEN, SR., CEM EMP

A native of Chattanooga, Mr. Allen was appointed as Director of Hamilton County Emergency Services in 1982.  This agency serves the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County by directing Emergency Management, County Wide Ambulance Service and Field Services, which includes eight (8) volunteer fire departments, three (3) rescue services and a volunteer HAZMAT team.  Mr. ALlen also services as Director of Hamilton Security for Hamilton County. Currently, he is serving as Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security District III, and is a member of the FBI Regional Joint Terrorism Task Force. He also holds a secret clearance with the FBI. Don was the first Emergency Services Director to be awarded The Emergency Management Professional Certification of Emergency Managers Association of Tennessee and is the recipient of the Certified Emergency Manager designation by the International Emergency Managers Association.  He has served as Vice President of the state Emergency Management Association and President of Region IV, International Emergency Management Association.  Mr. Allen has directed response and recovery of six presidential declared disasters in Hamilton County during the past 12 years and is currently a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).  In addition, Mr. Allen has served on many boards to include Crime Stoppers, Chattanooga Downtown Alliance Board, Chattanooga Jaycees, Brainerd Kiwanis, Vice Chairman of Air show '92, '94, '96' 98 and Board of Directors of the Hamilton County Fair. Over the years, Don has served in three separate terms and is now serving his 11th year as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Hamilton County 9-1-1, a former Commissioner with Juvenile Court and is listed in the Who's Who in the National Emergency Service registry, and served on the Tennessee Aquarium Grand Opening Committee.

Don was instrumental in establishing the Chattanooga/Hamilton County 800 MHZ system. He is the lead County official in charge of the joint system. Electronics and radio has been a keen interest all of his life. He makes a special effort to follow new technology as it pertains to interoperable communications.

He has been a licensed instrument rated pilot for 29 years and is an amateur radio operator. He is a professional photographer and own his own aerial photography business. He is a member of the Ooltewah Baptist. He is married to Sandra Woods Allen and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren.