DES MOINES, IOWA (December 14, 2020) — Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joyce Flinn has announced her retirement, effective January 29, 2021. Governor Kim Reynolds will announce an interim director at a later date.
“I want to thank Joyce for her service to the state of Iowa and for leading the department during such critical times,” said Gov Reynolds. “Through historic storms, tornadoes, floods, and a global pandemic, Joyce and her team worked around the clock to deliver resources and support to our communities in need. I wish her the very best in retirement and know that she will continue to be an asset as we transition a new interim director.”
"It has been an honor to serve as director of the Department and I thank Governor Reynolds for the opportunity,” said Dir Flinn. “During the numerous and ongoing disaster events that have impacted the state, I'm proud of the HSEMD team and thank the many local, state, federal, and private sector partners with whom I've worked."
Gov Kim Reynolds appointed Joyce Flinn to serve as the HSEMD director on January 7, 2019, and as the acting director of the department beginning in June 2018. She has served in this critical role during the 2018 Marshalltown tornado, the floods of 2019, and now during a global pandemic. Flinn began her career with emergency management in 1997 in the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. She transferred to the Readiness and Response Bureau in March 2000. She became bureau chief for Readiness and Response in August 2008. Prior to serving at the helm of HSEMD, Flinn served as Chief of Operations and Response Division Administrator.
