New EMA Director Named for Montgomery County
Montgomery county and city officials have named a new EMA Director. Christina Thornton will fill the post left vacant by the retirement of Calvin Brown in August.
The following is a press release by the city of Montgomery.
Director Christina A. Thornton, Montgomery City/County Emergency Management Agency
Christina A. Thornton, a career law enforcement professional with multidisciplinary emergency management experience and training, is the new director of the Montgomery City/County Emergency Management Agency. Her appointment was effective August 26, 2016.
In accepting her new position, Director Thornton relinquished the title of Captain Thornton, serving most recently as an officer with the Montgomery Police Department. She began her career with MPD in 2002, serving as a patrol officer following her graduation from the Montgomery Police Academy. Subsequent assignments included Training and Recruiting, Patrol supervision and River District command, and Dignitary Protection as she earned promotions through the rank structure. As captain, she recently created and implemented MPD’s Career Development Program and managed the Field Training Program for officers.
Director Thornton has extensive experience in developing and administering incident action plans for large-scale planned events and weather emergencies, including the 2008 Montgomery flood, 2014 ice storm, 2015 gubernatorial inauguration, and 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 2015. She is a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee and of the City/County Emergency Exercise Planning Committee. She has earned multiple FEMA certifications, including the Incident Command System Courses and Train-the-Trainer certifications.
In May 2017 she will complete coursework for dual degrees, earning a bachelor’s of science degree in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University Montgomery, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Emergency Management from the Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, Md.
She was one of three finalists for the position named by City/County Personnel and interviewed by a panel which included State EMA Assistant Director Jeff Byard, Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham and Montgomery County Commission Deputy Administrator Florence Cauthen.
