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Awards recognize outstanding leadership, professional achievement, education, and service to the emergency management profession

October 21, 2026 — The International Association of Emergency Managers USA Council (IAEM-USA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Individual Awards, recognizing five emergency management professionals for their exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to advancing the emergency management profession. The recipients will be honored during the IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX Awards Banquet on Nov. 11 in Long Beach, California.

IAEM-USA Emergency Manager of the Year: Rachel Porter, CBCP, AZ-MEM

Rachel Porter leads emergency management and resilience for transmission and distribution at Arizona Public Service, where she has strengthened incident management, operational readiness, and organizational resilience. With nearly two decades of experience across public safety, disaster response, government, and critical infrastructure, Porter has advanced emergency planning, training, and exercise programs while supporting responses to severe weather, wildfires, and power disruptions. She also serves as chair of the IAEM-USA Community and Member Engagement Committee and contributes to industrywide resilience initiatives. Her leadership underscores the importance of preparedness and collaboration in protecting critical infrastructure and the communities it serves.

Elizabeth B. Armstrong Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Association: Lanita Lloyd, CEM

Lanita Lloyd, CEM, has dedicated more than 30 years to emergency management and more than two decades to advancing IAEM and the profession. Currently, Lloyd serves as divisional director of Emergency Disaster Services for The Salvation Army in Georgia. She has held numerous IAEM leadership positions, including IAEM-USA president, IAEM-USA Region 4 president, and chair of several committees. Her extensive contributions include leading IAEM’s FEMA-funded Whole Community Project, supporting certification programs, mentoring emerging professionals, and representing IAEM in national and international initiatives. Her longstanding commitment to professional development, collaboration, and service has strengthened IAEM and the emergency management community.

IAEM-USA Rising Star Award: Megan Berumen, CEM

Megan Berumen, CEM, serves as emergency manager and assistant director of emergency services for the city of Orange, California, where she has strengthened emergency planning, training, and community preparedness. Since entering the profession in 2021, Berumen has demonstrated exceptional leadership by coordinating regional emergency response resources, enhancing wildfire evacuation planning, and improving emergency operations center readiness. She also launched Ready Orange, a community preparedness initiative, and secured more than $600,000 in grant funding to support local emergency management efforts. Her accomplishments demonstrate the significant impact emerging professionals can have in strengthening community resilience.

IAEM-USA Emergency Management Educator Award: Edward C. Wolff, CEM

Edward C. Wolff, CEM, has devoted more than three decades to emergency management education, training and professional development. As director of global preparedness and security at L2 Defense, Wolff designs practical, scenario-based training programs that equip emergency management professionals to respond effectively to complex incidents and disasters. His career includes training thousands of practitioners, developing innovative curricula and supporting emergency management education for military, civilian and international organizations. A longtime Civil Air Patrol volunteer and U.S. civil expert to NATO, Wolff has demonstrated an enduring commitment to advancing emergency management knowledge, leadership and operational readiness.

IAEM-USA Emergency Management Mentor of the Year: Guadalupe “Trey” Hewtty III

Guadalupe “Trey” Hewtty III serves as an emergency management specialist with the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management in Texas, supporting preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. With more than two decades of experience in emergency communications and disaster operations, Hewtty has contributed to responses to major emergencies across Texas and has built strong regional partnerships. Known for his willingness to share knowledge, provide guidance, and support colleagues, he has helped develop both new and experienced emergency management professionals. His dedication to mentorship and collaboration exemplifies the importance of developing the next generation of emergency managers.

IAEM-USA congratulates all five recipients for their outstanding achievements, leadership, and dedication to strengthening the emergency management profession and the communities they serve. Additional information about the award recipients and their accomplishments will be featured in a special publication available on the IAEM website, www.iaem.org, in early November.

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

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