Lewes native Justin Kates named to FEMA advisory council

Sussex Technical High School alumnus and 2010 University of Delaware graduate Justin Kates was recently named to the Federal Emergency Management Association's new National Advisory Council.

The council advises the FEMA administrator on all aspects of emergency management, including preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation for disasters and national emergencies. Kates is one of only 16 new appointees selected from a cross-section of the nation's top emergency managers and emergency response providers.

After graduating from the University of Delaware in 2010, Kates held the position of director of emergency management for the City of Nashua, N.H., for 10 years. He recently accepted the position of director of emergency management and communications for Somerville, Mass., after obtaining a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Kates has been a local firefighter, emergency responder and emergency management instructor since college. He also has been an adjunct faculty member in search, rescue and emergency management for several New England colleges.

Kates is the son of Denise and Minor Kates of Lewes. He and his wife Megan reside in Nashua.