Andrew Phelps, Director
Andrew began his career in New York where he was an active member of the response and emergency management community, serving as a response team member of New York Search and Rescue, and Rescue Team Chief for New York City’s first FEMA-recognized Community Emergency Response Team. Andrew left New York to manage the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Local Preparedness Program which provided technical assistance to local and tribal emergency management programs. Andrew also served as New Mexico’s Emergency Operations Center Planning Section Chief for several federally declared disasters. Prior to his arrival in Oregon, Andrew was the Director of Emergency Management for the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Santa Fe County Fire Department. He was hired as director for the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in February 2015.
Andrew graduated magna cum laude from John Jay College in New York City with a degree in Public Administration/Emergency Management and Planning. He received his Master of Arts from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, California. His master’s thesis, Play Well With Others: Improvisational Theater and Collaboration in the Homeland Security Environment, was published in September, 2013.
Matt Marheine, Deputy Director
Matt Marheine was
named Deputy Director for Oregon Office of Emergency Management in February
2017. He began his career with OEM in 2000 as the agency’s Domestic
Preparedness Coordinator. He held this position until July 2013 when he was
hired as Operations and Preparedness Section Manager. In this position, Matt
and his team managed responsibility for homeland security, earthquake and
tsunami education, preparedness planning, emergency operations, search and
rescue, communications, training and exercises statewide. During State
incidents Matt represents the State as the ECC Manager and Operations Manager
for the administration of the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC).
Prior to his role at OEM Matt worked for the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Region III Philadelphia, implementing and managing Human Services
Programs.
Matt participates in the Emergency Management Accreditation Program
(EMAP) and has assisted in the development of EMAP standards since 2003.
Stan Thomas, Mitigation and Recovery Section Manager
Stan Thomas began working as the Mitigation and Recovery Section Manager in August of 2020. A US Air Force Veteran, Stan's civilian emergency management career began in 1994 as an Oregon Agency Liaison to the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot and assisted the DHS/FEMA's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) with community based emergency action planning, exercise safety, evaluation and control throughout the country. In 2014 Stan took on the challenge of developing Oregon's Mass Care Strategies developing partnerships and advanced planning with the Red Cross, Oregon Food Bank, ORVOAD and many other stakeholders. Along with mass care operations Stan also facilitated continuity of operations for the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority covering approximately 200 locations and 14,000 employees.
Stan is a Red Cross Volunteer, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainer, and past Member of Deschutes County Search and Rescue. Other elements of Stan's career include occupational health and safety, workplace accident investigations, threat management, suicide prevention, and exercise development and facilitation.
Stephen Richardson is the Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance Section Manager, overseeing hazard mitigation and individual assistance programs with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. The Individual Assistance program provides funding to individuals and households affected by disasters in an effort to facilitate successful recovery.
Stephen Richardson came to OEM in 2020, during the wildfire and COVID19 incidents supporting the areas of business and industry. Stephen previously worked as a Compliance Specialist with Business Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity. He worked to ensure the integrity of the program, created “Train the Trainer" events hosted throughout Oregon, conducted outreach for education, and advocated for Oregon's small businesses.
While in his role as business and industry support though Business Oregon during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and Labor Day fires in Oregon, Stephen played a key role in sourcing and distribution of hand sanitizer by organizing and collaborating with Oregon distilleries and private businesses manufacturing hand sanitizer for the state despite the national shortage. Stephen also worked with businesses to re-tool and provide Personal Protective Equipment.
Stephen's prior career included working in the criminal justice field for over 15 years as a corrections deputy, police officer, canine handler/trainer, and community relations officer.
Stephen is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor's of Science. In his off time, Stephen is a mentor to men coming out of addiction, involved in his son's Boy Scout Troop, and enjoys dog training.
Traci Naile, Operations and Preparedness Section Manager
She came to Oregon Office of Emergency Management in April 2020.
Frank Kuchta, State 9-1-1 Program Section Manager
State 9-1-1 Program Section Manager Frank Kuchta manages the team of professionals at Oregon Office of Emergency Management who are tasked with administering the statewide 9-1-1 program. This includes distribution of 9-1-1 revenue to local jurisdictions, oversight of the emergency communications network and support services required to deliver 2 million 9-1-1 emergency calls for assistance made within Oregon each year.
Frank came to OEM in 2015 as project portfolio manager for the 9-1-1 program. In this role, Frank made significant contributions to the 9-1-1 program including the replacement and modernization of statewide 9-1-1 network services connecting all 43 Oregon Public Safety Answering Points, and the development of a multi-phased Next Generation 9-1-1 tactical plan.
Frank has held several State of Oregon leadership positions, most recently for the Office of the State Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Services where he oversaw a team of senior project managers responsible for implementing a portfolio of statewide technology initiatives.