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Awards recognize distinguished careers, exceptional leadership, and decades of service to the emergency management profession

October 22, 2026 — The International Association of Emergency Managers USA Council (IAEM-USA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards, honoring two emergency management professionals for their distinguished careers, exceptional leadership and decades of dedication to strengthening emergency preparedness, response and recovery. The recipients will be honored during the IAEM Annual Conference & EMEX Awards Banquet on Nov. 11 in Long Beach, California.

IAEM-USA Clayton R. Christopher Memorial Award: Judson M. Freed, CEM

Judson M. Freed, CEM, has dedicated nearly 40 years to advancing emergency management, homeland security, and community resilience through public service, education, and policy development. He served as director of emergency management and homeland security for Ramsey County, Minnesota, from 2003 to June 2026, leading preparedness and response efforts in one of the nation’s most densely populated urban counties. A former IAEM-USA and IAEM-USA Region 5 president, Freed has played a significant role in shaping emergency management policy at the local, state, and national levels. His accomplishments include helping establish Minnesota’s state-funded post-disaster public assistance program, testifying before Congress and serving in leadership roles with the National Association of Counties and the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. An educator, consultant, and longtime advocate for the profession, Freed continues to advance emergency management through teaching, policy development, and professional leadership.

IAEM-USA Career Excellence Award: Harold Damron, CEM

Harold Damron, CEM, has devoted more than three decades to public service and emergency management leadership. He began as a volunteer emergency manager in Mokena, Illinois, in 1985, and later served as director of the Will County Emergency Management Agency, guiding preparedness, response, and recovery efforts through numerous emergencies and disasters. Throughout his career, he coordinated operations for 14 presidentially declared emergencies and disasters, strengthened interagency partnerships, and advanced emergency planning, training, and communications capabilities. After retiring in 2022, Damron continued his commitment to public service through the Civil Air Patrol, serving in leadership and emergency response roles. A Certified Emergency Manager® since 1993 and an IAEM member for more than 30 years, Damron’s career reflects an enduring dedication to protecting communities and advancing the emergency management profession.

IAEM-USA congratulates both recipients for their extraordinary careers, lasting contributions and unwavering commitment to strengthening emergency management and the communities they have served. 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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