CAMDENTON — Denise K. Russell has been named the new Camden County Emergency Management Director, replacing Harold Ward who retired after 15 years.

Prior to moving to Port Hueneme in Oxnard, Calif. in 2003 when her husband was transferred with the U.S. Marine Corps, Denise served as the Division Chief of Administration and Administration Assistant at Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District. She has been working in fire services and emergency management since 1995.

“We’re excited to have Denise join the Camden County team,” said Presiding Commissioner Carolyn Loraine. “With her experience and expertise, I think she will be able to take our emergency management program to a higher level.”

Russell was the founding coordinator and administrator of the Lake West Critical Incident Response Team from 2000-2002. She developed, implemented and managed the Emergency Resource Book for 30 Fire Districts under Lake Ozark Mutual Aid Association. Russell also prepared a Board of Directors Guideline manual to assist the current and future Sunrise Beach Board of Directors. From 1995-2002, Russell was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical services (EMS) responder. During that time she was awarded the “Hometown Hero Award” from the Camdenton School District.

From 1999-2002, she conducted and assisted in fire service personnel training and conducted public education related to Fire and EMS in the local area. She has certifications in Hazmat Awareness, FEMA Emergency Management Institute, and the University of Missouri Fire & Rescue Training Institute in Columbia. She is an active member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. She served as a member of the Lake Area Wildland Coordination Team, Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts and Women in Fire Service.

Russell received her Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management from the American Military University in Manassas, VA in 2006 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, KS in 1994.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to give back to my home county and to raise the bar for the emergency management services afforded the citizens of the lake area,” said Russell. “Since I was able to work with so many first responder agencies before moving away, it’s going to make my job easier as we continue working together to better coordinate emergency disaster preparedness for Camden County.”