Robert Ezelle serves as Director of the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD), which is responsible for leading and coordinating mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the people, property, environment and economy of Washington State. During his tenure, the State has successfully supported the response to and recovery from numerous major disasters to include the COVID Pandemic, the SR 530 Oso Landslide, the record-setting wildfire seasons of 2014 and 2015, and a host of devastating weather events. Robert joined the division in October 2010 as the Homeland Security Section Manager and in May 2011, the state’s E-911 program was added to his portfolio. He assumed his current position on April 1, 2013.

Prior to joining EMD, Robert served for 30 years in the United States Air Force and Washington Air National Guard, culminating in various senior leadership roles. His final assignment was as vice commander of the Western Air Defense Sector, in which he supervised a diverse, multinational workforce conducting the crucial, no-fail, federal missions of air sovereignty, air security and air defense of the western United States. Previously, as the Sector’s director of operations, he led its response to the September 11 th , 2001 terrorist attacks. Robert’s strategic vision includes facilitating closer collaboration between the EMD team and stakeholders to better prepare for catastrophic events such as a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, and leading the nation by ensuring Washington residents have access to next generation emergency telephone services.