From Harford County Government:
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced the appointment of Russell J. Strickland as Manager of the Harford County Division of Emergency Operations. Strickland replaces Brian Feist who served approximately 19 months as Manager of the EOC and is returning to Pennsylvania to pursue a business opportunity.
“We are delighted that Russ Strickland will be taking the helm of the Division of Emergency Operations for Harford County and look forward to many years of service from him,” County Executive David R. Craig stated. “Russell’s distinguished background in public safety and management will serve him well in his new position with Harford County,” Craig remarked.
Strickland began his career in public safety in the early 1970’s as a part-time clerk and dispatcher with the Elkton Police Department in Cecil County. He moved on to serve as a police officer with the University of Maryland Police Department and later as a fire investigator and inspector with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Additionally, Strickland served a member of the State’s first Hazardous Materials Response Team while serving with the OSFM.
From the late 1970’s through 2004, Mr. Strickland was employed with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at the University of Maryland where he served in a number of positions, and concluded his service with MFRI as Assistant Director. While serving as the Assistant Director of MFRI, Mr. Strickland was responsible for the day-to-day field operations of the state-level agency.
In addition to his management responsibilities with MFRI, Mr. Strickland has served as an adjunct faculty member involved with classroom instruction of fire service and emergency service providers throughout the State of Maryland.
In January 2004 Mr. Strickland transferred to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) on “Executive Loan” from the University of Maryland and continued his service with MEMA until June of 2008.
In July of 2008, Mr. Strickland joined the staff of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as a member of the Awareness and Response Information Systems Group, Asymmetric Operations Department. In this position, Mr. Strickland’s duties related to providing subject matter expertise in the areas of local, state, and federal Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to include concept and proposal development, research and development, project leadership, as well as liaison activity with local, state, and federal partners.
In addition to his distinguished employment background, Mr. Strickland has been active in a number of civic and professional organizations including, but not limited to the following:
• Member of Harford County Public Schools’ Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program Advisory Committee
• Past chair of the Maryland Council of Fire and Rescue Academies
• Current treasurer and former national liaison of the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board
• Member of the National Fire Protection Association
• Member of University of Maryland, University College, School of Undergraduate Studies Advisory Council on Emergency Management, Fire Science and Homeland Security.
• Committee Chair for the Essentials of Firefighting Validation Committee of the International Fire Service Training Association
Strickland also has an extensive background and relationship with the volunteer fire service. He is a Life Member of the Singerly Fire Company of Elkton, and has also served with the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company in Carroll County, the College Park Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George’s County, and Frederick County ALS.
Strickland is a 1975 graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. In 1987 he received a Master of Science degree in Management from Frostburg State University.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Strickland stated, “I am extremely grateful and pleased that County Executive Craig and Director of Administration Mary Chance have the faith and confidence in me for this position. It is an opportunity for me to return to local government and local response which is the foundation of our emergency services systems.” Strickland added, “I also look forward to the opportunity to work with the Administration, the County Council, the Harford County Public Safety Commission, the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, as well as all the fire/rescue and EMS organizations throughout the county, the Harford County EMS Foundation, and finally the municipal and State Police and Harford County Sheriff’s Office to seek out and identify ways to enhance our emergency services delivery for the citizens and visitors of Harford County.”
The Strickland family resides in the Fountain Green area of Harford County near Bel Air.
Harford County made the right choice for a can do person I have worked with him in the past and known Mr. Strickland for now on 40 years. They made the right selection hands down the county emergency operations will be something that will shine and function like goverment should in providing top notch service to the community at large in professional manner across the board