Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Home

? iconHow can we make this site better?
Let us know ...

View Virginia Department of Emergency Management expenditures


About VDEM  

VDEM Leadership


Michael ClineMichael M. Cline, State Coordinator of Emergency Management

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 1972. Appointed State Coordinator of Emergency Management in June 1998.

Positions and Accomplishments

Previous positions in VDEM, beginning in 1972, include:

Member of State Disaster Response Team on 41 Presidentially declared disasters.

State Coordinating Officer for Hurricanes Bonnie, Dennis Floyd, Isabel and Katrina; Tropical Storms Gaston, Jeanne and Ernesto; the ’01, ’02, ’03 and ’04 Southwest Virginia Floods; the Pentagon terrorist attack; the ’00, ’03, ’09 and ‘10 winter storms; the ’04 Central Virginia floods;, the ’06 Spring and Summer floods and the ’09 Nor’easter.

Deputy State Coordinating Officer for the ’84, ’85, ’89, ’92, ’95 and ’96 floods; the Petersburg Tornado; the ’93, ’94 and ’96 winter storms and Hurricane Fran.

Member Virginia Emergency Medical Services Board, 1982 – 1988.

Member Gubernatorial Hazardous Materials Task Force, 1986 and 1987.

Member Gubernatorial Emergency Medical Services Task Force, 1989.

Acting Director, Virginia Department of Fire Programs, March to October 1997.

Member Virginia Domestic Preparedness (Terrorism) Work Group, 1998 – 2001.

Chairman, Virginia Emergency Response Council, Current

Chairman, Virginia Wireless E-911 Board, Current

Member, National Public Safety Spectrum Trust Board, Current

Military

Three years service in U.S. Air Force.

Education

Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond — 1969.

Virginia Executive Institute — 1997.

Personal Info

A resident of Powhatan, Va. since 1975, Mr. Cline is married and has two sons and three grandchildren.

back to top


Jack King, Chief Deputy State Coordinator

Vocational

Served 30 years as a police officer in Oakland, Calif. and Richmond, Va.  Joined VDEM in April, 2010, as a Deputy State Coordinator.

Positions and Accomplishments:

Served in a number of positions with the Richmond Police Department to include:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree from University of Richmond
Graduate of the FBI Hazardous Devices School
Numerous professional certifications

Personal:

Jack is married with four children.  He is an Ultra Marathoner and volunteer youth baseball coach.

back to top


Brett BurdickBrett A. Burdick, Deputy State Coordinator for Administration

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 1994 and is currently Deputy State Coordinator for Administration.

Positions and Accomplishments

Director of the Technological Hazards Division (2000 through 2008) with oversight of the Commonwealth’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Response System.

Environmental Programs Manager (1994 through 2000) directing the environmental restoration of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Fuel Storage Facility in York County.

Terrorism Program Manager directing Virginia's Consequence Management efforts and preparedness for terrorist incidents.

Member of the Regional Response Team for EPA Region III.

Virginia's representative on the Southern States Energy Board Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee.

Member of the DOD/DOJ Interagency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability.

Professional Geologist in two states.

Certified Hazardous Materials Manager at the Masters Level through the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Geology and Oceanography from Humboldt State University, California

Master of Public Administration from California State University – Dominguez Hills

Graduate Studies at the University of New Hampshire and the College of William and Mary in Virginia

Master of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University

Graduate of Commonwealth Management Institute and the Virginia Executive Institute

Personal Info

A rugby fanatic, Mr. Burdick is married with three children and currently resides in Henrico County.

back to top


Bobbie Atristain, Director of the Information Technology Office

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 2007 as the Senior Applications Developer for the IT department and is currently the Director of IT.

Positions Held

Applications Engineer, Longwood University, Farmville,VA

Adjunct Faculty, ECPI, Richmond,VA

UNIX Server Administrator, Media General, Richmond, VA

Technical Manager, US Cyber, Lynchburg, VA

Webmaster, US Cyber, Amherst, VA/Boston, MA

Director of E-Commerce, The Software Factory, South Boston, VA

Internet Consultant/Webmaster, Lynchburg.net, Lynchburg, VA

Webmaster, Sweet Briar College, Amherst, VA

Personal Info

Bobbie and husband Rick live in Nottoway County with their many cats. When Bobbie isn’t helping localities with Web EOC/ IT questions, she enjoys fencing, taking flying lessons and researching the paranormal in Virginia.

back to top


Gregory Britt, Director of Technological Hazards Division

Gregory Britt is currently the Director of the Technological Hazards Division for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. He has more than 25 years experience in the field of Public Safety. In the early 1980’s he was employed by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue as a fire fighter, EMT, and Hazardous Materials Technician. In 1988, he accepted a position with VDEM as a Hazardous Materials Officer for the Central Virginia area. In 1997 he was promoted to the Hazardous Materials Field Manager and in 2006 he was promoted the Deputy Directory for the Technological Hazardous Division. He has responded to over 500 hazardous materials incidents.

As the Director of the Technological Hazards Division, Mr. Britt oversees Hazardous Materials training, Environmental Programs, and Hazardous Materials response which include eight Regional Hazardous Materials Officers who oversee 13 regional HAZMAT teams throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies from Morgan State University and advance degree studies in Industrial Hygiene from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Commonwealth Management Institute and Virginia Executive Institute. He is a past member (1998-2008) of the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials. He also has more than 2,500 hours of continuing education in hazardous materials, terrorism, clandestine drug lab response, environmental law, environmental regulations and various emergency management courses.

He is happily married, has two sons and three grandchildren. He actively serves in his community and his church.

back to top


Harry E. Colestock, III, Director of Operations

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 1993 and is currently Director of Operations.

Positions and Accomplishments

Previous experience at VDEM:

Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) Assessor

State Disaster Response and Recovery Team member for disasters from 1995 through present

White House Crisis Management Center Staff, 1983-1985

National Military Intelligence Center/National Military Command Center Staff, 1977-1980

Co-authored published study of performance measurement in emergency management, 1998

Military

U.S. Air Force Colonel, Retired.

Education

B.S. and M.A. in Geography from Michigan State University.

Air War College

Virginia Executive Institute

back to top


Ted Costin, Director of Preparedness Division

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 2005 as Director of the Preparedness, Training and Exercises Division.

Positions Held

Assistant County Administrator, Greensville County, Va.

Planning Director, Greensville County, Va.

Town Manager, Elkton, Va.

Planning Director, Mathews, Va.

Planning Technician, Chesterfield County, Va.

Zoning Inspector, Chesterfield County, Va. EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, University of Richmond

Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Virginia Commonwealth University

American Institute of Certified Planners, member since 1990

Senior Executive Institute, 2004

Personal Info

Married with two children, Ted enjoys reading and following Packer football.

back to top


Joe Coyle, Director of Local Support Services Division

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 2005 and is currently Director of the Local Support Services Division.

Positions and Accomplishments

Previous experience at VDEM:

Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Roanoke

Bioterrorism Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and History, Averett University

Graduate studies in Emergency Management, American Public University

Master Exercise Practitioner

Advanced Professional Series, FEMA

Nationally Registered EMT-Paramedic

Personal Info

Joe enjoys backpacking in Europe and Australia and is an avid scuba diver.

back to top


Linda Earle, Director of Human Resources

Linda Earle is the Human Resource Director for Virginia Department of Emergency Management. She is responsible for directing a comprehensive human resource program that meets the needs of managers and employees, while ensuring optimum program effectiveness. She also directs the agency reservist program, making sure that reserve personnel are trained, exercised and available during disasters.

Ms. Earle joined VDEM in 2005 as a human resources consultant. She has more than 20 years of experience in private sector human resource management, including employee relations, compensation and benefits, payroll, performance management, and recruitment and retention. Linda has worked in an array of industries, including telecommunications, insurance and customer service, retail, and advertising. She is a member of Richmond Human Resource Management Association, the Society for Human Resource Management and the Commonwealth Management Institute.

back to top


Hampton Hart, Director of Office of Training and Exercises

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 2003 and is currently Director of Office of Training and Exercises.

Positions and Accomplishments

Previous experience at VDEM:

Deputy Director, Joint Deployment Training Center, USTRANSCOM

Training Support Battalion Commander

Defense Coordinating Liaison Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Military

U.S. Army, Retired.

Education

B.A. in Political Science, Howard University.

Master Exercise Practitioner

Defense Preparedness Institute

Joint Forces Staff College

US Army Command and General College

Personal Info

Mr. Hart is married, has two sons and lives with extremely spoiled Chihuahuas. He currently resides in Henrico County.

back to top


George Roarty, Director of Recovery and Mitigation Division

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 1986 and is currently Director of the Recovery and Mitigation Division

Positions and Accomplishments

Manager, Hazardous Materials and Terrorism Planning Branch

Emergency Management Planner

Regional Planner, Crater Planning District Commission

Chairman, Commonwealth Preparedness Working Group Pan Flu Subcommittee

Member of the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission Board

Former member of the Richmond Regional and Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response Systems

Education

Master of City and Regional Planning, Catholic University

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Marist College

Personal

George is married with two children and currently resides in Chesterfield County.

back to top


Bob Spieldenner, Director of Public Affairs

Vocational

Joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 2003 as Director of Public Affairs.

Positions and Accomplishments

Coalition on Donation - Communications Manager, 2000-2003

United Network for Organ Sharing - Public Relations Specialist, 1998-2000

Virginia Department of Transportation - Public Relations Specialist, 1992-1998

Serves as a disaster action team volunteer with the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Past president of the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Member of the Virginia Government Communicators

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Virginia Military Institute

Graduate studies at the Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Mass Communications

Accredited in Public Relations by the Public Relations Society of America

back to top


Victoria Williams, Director of Finance Division

Vocational

Joined VDEM in 2000 as the Director of Human Resources.

Positions and Accomplishments

Previous state government experience includes:

Private Industry experience includes:

Serves as a volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Red Cross

Member of Richmond Human Resource Management Association and the Society for Human Resource Management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management with a minor in Human Resources, VCU, Richmond, VA

Certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

Personal Info

Vicky is married, loves to travel and has several cats and dogs.

back to top