[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6939-S6940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO MARK GHILARDUCCI

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to honor Mark 
Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services--
CalOES--as he retires following years of committed and extraordinarily 
capable public service.
  Director Ghilarducci's laudable career spans 30 years of service in 
public safety and government management at the local, State, and 
Federal levels, as well as more than 12 years in the private sector, 
working in security and crisis management globally. I, myself, have had 
the pleasure of working with Mr. Ghilarducci and have witnessed 
firsthand his dedication to the safety of all Californians.
  Early in his career, Director Ghilarducci served as the deputy State 
fire chief at CalOES. In this role, he oversaw special operations such 
as the State Urban Search and Rescue Response System. Director 
Ghilarducci helped develop this search and rescue system in the wake of 
the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, and this system has since served as 
the model for the Nation. In fact, Ghilarducci relied on this system as 
he led the Federal search and rescue operations in the wake of the 1995 
terrorist bombings in Oklahoma City, demonstrating the system's 
effectiveness, as well as his own courage in the face of disaster. 
Twenty years later, he served as an adviser to the State of Louisiana 
and Governor Kathleen Blanco in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and 
provided on the ground assistance.
  In 2000, he was appointed deputy director of CalOES, where he oversaw 
statewide emergency operations, planning, and training. Drawing from 
his experience in State and national emergency response, Director 
Ghilarducci utilized his position to advocate for preventative disaster 
management and clearer communication between local, State, and Federal 
agencies with disaster-relief organizations. During his

[[Page S6940]]

tenure, CalOES expanded its mission to encompass more than natural 
disasters, adding programs that focused on terrorism prevention and 
cybersecurity attacks and developed faster and broader disaster 
response to public health emergencies like COVID-19.
  In February 2012, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ghilarducci to 
secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency, a great fit 
for someone so well-qualified. The following year, the Governor 
appointed him to director of CalOES and he has held this position ever 
since. While in this role, Ghilarducci briefed President Obama in 2014 
on California's historic drought, as well as President Trump and 
President Biden during their respective visits to California after 
natural disaster events, including the Camp and Caldor fires. Under his 
direction, CalOES improved and modernized the State's emergency 
management. Earlier this year, CalOES announced a first in the Nation 
grant program focused on building community resilience to prevent long-
term disaster impacts.
  As one of California's Senators, I extend my deepest gratitude to 
Director Ghilarducci for his tireless commitment to the safety of 
Californians and Americans nationwide. Please join me in wishing him a 
safe, prosperous, and well-earned retirement.

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