Chicago Chief Emergency Officer Cortez Trotter has resigned to take a position with James Lee Witt Assoc. as its vice president and director of the Midwest region.

"We are pleased to have one of the nation's most recognized emergency management professionals join our firm," said James Lee Witt, CEO of James Lee Witt Assoc. in a press release "Cortez is one of the finest first responders in the country and we know that he will be invaluable to our clients."

Trotter has served in public safety for more than 30 years with the City of Chicago. As the city's chief emergency officer, he oversaw the long-range planning strategy for man-made and natural disasters and coordinated preparedness, response and recovery activities for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department, and Chicago Department of Public Health.

As the former chief emergency officer, Chicago Fire Department fire commissioner and executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Trotter implemented several nationally recognized initiatives, including developing life-safety legislation and building consortiums with financial institutions, building owners and managers, and other private-sector partners. He has supervised the planning for and responses to train derailments, airplane crashes, extra-alarm high-rise and warehouse fires, massive power outages, tornadoes, and terrorist threats.