As the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Field Operations Directorate, Patrick Hernandez is responsible for developing, maintaining, and deploying a disaster workforce that is well trained, educated, and prepared to support disaster survivors and first responders. FEMA's disaster workforce is comprised of more than 13,000 personnel who support all-hazard operations, including the Reservist Workforce, FEMA Corps, Full-time Employees, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Surge Capacity Force. In his current capacity, Mr. Hernandez provides the infrastructure and delivery systems required to train, certify, deploy, and manage these personnel, in addition to coordination with interagency partners to ensure the Agency can meet its requirements for National Preparedness in the Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas.
Mr. Hernandez joined FEMA in 2010 and previously served as Director of the Incident Workforce Management Division as well as the Deputy Division Director of Response Planning and Chief of National Planning. His disaster experience includes deployments as a Division Supervisor for eight counties in Alabama following the 2011 tornadoes and for Staten Island, New York during Hurricane Sandy. Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Hernandez served 20 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps where he held operational command at every rank.