JUNEAU, AK
(July 7, 2020)
– The Central Council of the
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) is pleased to announce the promotion of Corey Padrón to Emergency Operations Administrator. In this capacity, Corey will oversee all programs, projects and services of the new Office of Emergency Management which will be housed under the Tribe’s Public Safety department. He will also serve as a liaison with all governments involved in emergency management, assist Compact communities with their emergency management activities and supervise community volunteers and employees as it relates to activities within Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center (TEOC).
The TEOC was formed in April 2020 to provide a coordinated response to the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (
COVID-19) pandemic using the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The objectives of the TEOC are to work in the best interest of Tlingit & Haida’s employees, tribal citizens, communities and neighbors to:
- Safeguard the health and well-being of Tlingit & Haida employees, tribal citizens, communities and neighbors.
- Slow/stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Mitigate the economic impact to Tlingit & Haida and its employees from COVID-19.
- Provide public information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am very pleased to see Corey promoted to this new position,” shared Incident Commander Jason Wilson. “He brings a great deal of experience both from being a VPSO and with his educational background in emergency management. He has hit the ground running and I have every bit of confidence in his ability to serve Tlingit & Haida and support our Southeast Alaska communities.”
Corey has served as a Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) in Saxman, AK for the past eight years and attained the rank of First Sergeant-Field Training Officer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration and Associate’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Emergency Management. He is also a qualified Alaska Interior Firefighter I and Emergency Medical Technician III with the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department in Ketchikan, AK. He previously instructed at the Village Police Officer Academy in Bethel, AK and the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka, AK where he taught law enforcement subjects as well as Emergency Trauma Technician and CPR courses.
“Community public safety is very important to me, especially in the rural areas of Alaska,” shared Corey. “In these tense and conflicting times, we need to look at public safety from a holistic perspective. Serving as a VPSO, I learned what that holistic approach looks like and how effective it can be. I not only enforced laws and made people feel safe during incidents of crime, I was able to show the human side of a VPSO by providing medical care and emergency fire response. I am honored to use my training and experience to take that holistic approach in public safety to an entirely new level. I look forward to providing broad view assistance to Southeast Alaska’s communities that supports all aspects of public safety including police, fire, and EMS, to ensure all of our communities have emergency plans in place for all forms of natural and man-made disasters. Disasters are inevitable, but survival is optional. We can all make a difference in the community approach to public safety. Take an online training, volunteer or join your local community emergency response team.”
###
Media Contact:
Office of the President - Communications
Raeanne Holmes, Communications Coordinator
