IAEM-USA Announces the 2025 Uniformed Services Emergency Manager Award

The Awards & Recognition Committee of the U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA) has selected Colonel Todd Canale as the recipient of the 2025 IAEM-USA Uniformed Services Emergency Manager Award. The award will be presented during the 73rd IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX in Louisville, Kentucky.

2025 Uniformed Services Emergency Manager Recipient: Colonel Todd Canale

Colonel Todd M. Canale distinguished himself as a prominent leader of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) “All-Hazards” Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) efforts in FEMA Region 9 and Arizona. In December 2024, he led a groundbreaking aeromedical evacuation mission after a catastrophic fireworks disaster in Honolulu, Hawaii, coordinating the transport of six critically burned civilians to a specialized burn center in Phoenix, Arizona. His swift and decisive leadership unified DoD AE aircrews, aircraft, and burn specialists, overcoming complex logistical challenges across multiple agencies, emergency operations centers, and hospitals in both Hawaii and Arizona—ultimately saving lives.

Colonel Canale further demonstrated strategic leadership by directing the National Disaster Medical System’s (NDMS) triennial full-scale exercise in Arizona. He oversaw the revision and implementation of the Southern Arizona NDMS plan, mobilizing hundreds of responders and enhancing statewide coordination and emergency response capabilities. He also designed and led three emergency response forums, training over 450 personnel on DoD resources and emergency management strategies tailored to Arizona’s specific disaster scenarios.

Furthermore, Colonel Canale coordinated three state-level emergency operations readiness events, fostering collaboration between civilian and military agencies to improve joint response and recovery procedures. His collaborative efforts extended to working with the U.S. Coast Guard and Mohave County Sheriff’s Office to organize precautionary Search and Rescue flights with the Air Force Auxiliary – Civil Air Patrol.

As the Air Force liaison for the DoD’s DSCA Southern Border Mission, Colonel Canale facilitated critical communication between Air Force and Army units at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca, and Gila Bend. He also served as the DoD representative to the Arizona Emergency Management Association, delivering strategic briefings that strengthened partnerships across 15 counties and 22 tribal nations.

Capping his contributions, Colonel Canale authored a comprehensive rewrite of the Air Force Emergency Management Instruction, a key update prompted by the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. His work significantly advanced the operational effectiveness of Air Force emergency services.

Colonel Todd M. Canale’s exceptional work in emergency management exemplifies interagency cooperation, innovation, and public service, which IAEM aims to honor. His efforts have enhanced collaboration between military and civilian agencies and improved coordinated emergency responses, leaving a lasting positive impact on the communities he serves and the emergency management field.

The IAEM-USA Uniformed Services Emergency Manager Award recognizes one individual serving in the uniformed services of the United States who has consistently demonstrated significant contributions to the field of emergency management.

For an official copy of this press release, please contact Dawn Shiley, CAE.