IAEM Annual Awards

The IAEM Award Program recognizes professionals, volunteers, students, and organizations across the emergency management industry, shining a light on the hard work and commendable results of the past year.

This past year has highlighted the essential role emergency managers play across society, as they have selflessly answered the call again and again to help their communities. The IAEM Awards Program offers an opportunity to shine a light on the profession by recognizing exceptional individuals and programs.

The IAEM Awards Program has helped organizations and programs throughout the years share their accomplishments and resources with the profession, benefiting not only the program’s intended beneficiaries but also the profession, and providing insight into new technology and resources, as well as programs to help.

Each submission is reviewed for eligibility and then judged by a team of esteemed emergency management professionals.

Awards Presentation

IAEM awards will be presented at the IAEM Annual Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. Award plaques or similar will be presented during the banquet. Awardees will receive a free one-day conference registration. (If it is a group award, one person designated by the awardee group will receive the free one-day conference registration.) The one-day pass may be used as a coupon to decrease the cost of a full registration, and refunds will be given if the awardee has already registered and paid.

Nominators Benefits

Nominators of a winning award will receive a free one-day conference registration. The one-day pass may be used as a coupon to decrease the cost of a full registration, and refunds will be given if the awardee has already registered and paid. IAEM encourages those nominating award-winning talent to share in the celebration.

Deadlines

The deadline for all award applications is June 30, 2026.

How to Enter

Our online platform makes the nominations process a breeze.

Select your award and review the award requirements.

Use the link to complete the award application and upload supporting documentation. You will be prompted to log in prior to starting a nomination/application. IAEM members should use their current username and password. If you are NOT an IAEM member and have NOT registered with us before, choose to register, and you will receive a login and password.
Add additional documentation by logging in to the website and visiting the dashboard. Access your open award applications on your dashboard under “My Award Applications.”
Download and review the Award Guideline below for each award in full prior to submitting the nomination/application form.
Read the Awards and Recognitions Committee Overarching Guidelines.
If you have questions, review the Awards and Recognitions Quick Facts.
NOTE: If you are a non-member nominating an IAEM member, please contact Alex Tyeryar for instructions on how to submit your nomination for free.
When you are ready to submit a nomination, visit the Award Portal to select the nomination form. (You will be prompted to log in or create an account.)

Award Guidelines

Download the award guidelines for each award below. Each guideline provides an overview of who/what the award is recognizing, eligibility, specific entry/nomination instructions, and judging criteria.

Programmatic Awards
Emergency Management Education and Training Program of the Year
Preparedness Award
Technology and Innovation Award

Public/Private Sector Awards
Business and Private Sector Integration and Public Sector Partnership Award

Individual Awards
Elizabeth B. Armstrong Award
Emergency Management Educator of the Year
Emergency Management Mentor of the Year Award
Emergency Manager of the Year Award
Rising Star Award

Lifetime Achievement Awards
Career Excellence Award
Clayton R. Christopher Memorial Award

Student Awards
Student Advocate of the Year Award
Student Chapter of the Year Award
Student of the Year Award

Volunteer Awards
Voluntary Organization of the Year
Volunteer Emergency Manager of the Year

Uniformed Services Awards:
USC Auxiliary Emergency Manager of the Year
USC Civilian Emergency Manager of the Year
USC Uniformed Emergency Manager of the Year