Garry L. Briese joines the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as regional administrator for region VIII. In this role, he will coordinate FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

Briese served as executive director of the Intl. Assn. of Fire Chiefs in Fairfax, Va. for more than 20 years where he was responsible for the organizational vision, development and implementation of the strategic plan, as well as leading partnership initiatives and coordinating public and governmental communications efforts.