Bill Peterson Bio

William E. (Bill) Peterson brings experience spanning more than 40 years in the fire service, emergency management and homeland security. Most recently, he was appointed Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 6, in Denton, Texas, by President George W. Bush. Bill was Responsible for the delivery of DHS/FEMA Disaster Response and Recovery Operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. During his tenure as Regional Administrator, he was responsible for handling a total of 83 Presidential Disaster Declarations, Emergency Declarations, and FMAG incidents within FEMA Region 6, including serving as Senior Federal Official, in theatre, for the successful Federal response to support the State of Louisiana during Hurricane GUSTAV, and the State of Texas during Hurricane IKE in 2008. Prior to his DHS/FEMA appointment Bill was Fire Chief, Emergency Management Coordinator, and Homeland Security Advisor for the City of Plano, Texas, for more than 23 years.

Bill has an Associate Degree in Fire Science, a B.A. Degree in Fire Protection Administration, and a dual M.A. Degree in Public Administration and Human Relations. Bill has received numerous awards and recognition including the Benjamin Franklin Leadership Award by the International Association of Fire Chiefs in 1997; Career Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Fire Chief Magazine in 2000; and the Krzysztof Smolarkiewicz Medal (Serial No. 9) for Exemplary Service to the Polish Fire Service in 2005.

Bill has participated in courses at the National Fire Academy, the Emergency Management Institute and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. In addition, he has served as an author of fire service publications, as an instructor of fire science courses, and as a member of national planning and standards committees. Bill has been a recognized leader during his distinguished career on the local, state, national, and international level. He is a founding member of the United States/United Kingdom Fire Service Symposium. Bill is a founding member of the USA Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), was elected to the International Council (Board of Directors) of the worldwide organization in 1999, and elected to the post of International President of the 11,000 member worldwide organization in 2004. He holds the distinction of being the first individual, not a subject of the United Kingdom or one of her Commonwealth Holdings, to be elected to this prestigious office.