Jeff Smitherman was appointed as director of the Alabama Emergency
Management Agency (AEMA) by Governor Kay Ivey on January 16, 2023.

Prior to his appointment, Director Smitherman served as acting director from May 2022 until his appointment in January 2023. He also served as the executive operations officer and the state
coordinating officer with the AEMA. He had previously served as the director of response
operations where he was responsible for managing the State’s Emergency Operation Center and
incident plans. Before his assignment in response operations, he served as the director of
recovery operations which includes the Public Assistance Program, Individual Assistance
Program, and various Mitigation Grant Programs. In all capacities, he has worked closely with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a joint field office following a
disaster declaration.

Director Smitherman retired in 2015 from the US Army and Alabama National Guard
completing a 28-year military career. He served in leadership positions at many levels including
as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, the J3 of Joint Forces
Headquarters Alabama National Guard, and as the G3 of the Alabama Army National Guard.
Director Smitherman was selected by his peers to serve as the national chair of the J3 (Domestic
Operations) Functional Advisory Council representing the states and territories in domestic
operations matters. During his military career, he assisted in the response and recovery to
multiple hurricanes, winter storms, tornados (including the historic April 27, 2011, outbreak),
and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Director Smitherman has a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War
College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military
Academy, West Point, New York