Meet the Director

Kevin Guthrie
Executive Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management

Kevin Guthrie was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management in May 2021. Executive Director Guthrie brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, with more than 30 years of experience in public safety and emergency management in the state of Florida.

Prior to serving as Executive Director, Guthrie was appointed Chief of Staff in October 2018 for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and shortly thereafter in January 2019 was appointed Deputy Director by Governor Ron DeSantis. As Deputy Director, Guthrie’s primary focus included coordinating response efforts among all state agencies, counties and municipalities ahead of natural and man-made disasters to ensure that Floridians were prepared. During this time, Guthrie also served as the Deputy State Coordinating Officer and the State Emergency Response Team Chief.

Before joining the Division, Executive Director Guthrie spent the first 23 years of his career as a Police Officer and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and later served as the Public Safety and Emergency Management Director for the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. He then went on to serve as the Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety for Pasco County where he was responsible for all Emergency Services, Fire/Rescue and the 911 Communications Center Departments.

Director Guthrie has won numerous awards for his efforts and successes in emergency management, including the Chad Reed First Responder Award from Governor Rick Scott and the Presidential Call to Service Award from President Barack Obama.

Director Guthrie holds a Master of Arts in Human Services from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Columbia College. Guthrie is also a certified Master Exercise Practitioner by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For updates on the Division’s preparedness, response and recovery efforts, follow Executive Director Kevin Guthrie on X (formerly Twitter) @KevinGuthrieFL.