Derrick Hiebert currently serves as the Assistant Administrator for the Hazard Mitigation Directorate within FEMA's Office of Resilience, where he leads a dedicated team committed to connecting our most vulnerable communities to federal risk reduction resources through technical assistance, grants, and collaborative planning. Mr. Hiebert has a track record of driving innovation in disaster resilience, leveraging his extensive state and local experience from planning to project implementation.
Prior to becoming the Assistant Administrator for the Hazard Mitigation Directorate, Mr. Hiebert built and led hazard mitigation programs in State and County government. At Washington State Emergency Management, he spearheaded the development of Interagency plans, including Washington's Restoration Framework and the State's Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan, resulting in one of the nation's most successful hazard mitigation programs. During his time at King County, Mr. Hiebert collaborated with over 50 cities, county departments, tribes, and special district governments, developing a hazard mitigation plan and program dedicated to investing in the most underserved parts of the county. His involvement also extended to various disaster response and recovery roles in state and local emergency operations centers, supporting efforts related to wildfires, severe storms, and public health emergencies.
Mr. Hiebert's journey to FEMA and this current role also includes valuable experience in the private sector, where he played a leadership role in hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, and climate equity practices within the Government and Public Service sector. He led diverse projects there, ranging from coordinating logistics for COVID-19 vaccine delivery through pharmacies to supporting rural communities in securing FEMA Public Assistance funding and aiding a federal agency with the successful implementation of the Justice40 Initiative.
Mr. Hiebert holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, International Affairs, and GIS from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. He now lives in Maryland with his wife and two children.