Spotlighting current leaders making a change, today. Introducing Reginald I. Harrison!
Reginald “Reggie” Harrison is the Director of the City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications (DPEC). Appointed as the founding Director of DPEC in 2014, Reggie oversees the department’s operations which include Citywide emergency management; 9-1-1 emergency communications for Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services; and the City’s Homeland Security Grants Program, which allocates millions of dollars each year for disaster preparedness training and equipment acquisition.
Prior to his current appointment, Reggie has served in a host of leadership positions during his 25 years with the City of Long Beach. In 2001 he was appointed as the City’s Deputy City Manager, and prior to that he served as the City’s Housing Authority Bureau Manager, Economic Development Bureau Manager, Acting Director of the Community Development Department, Acting Director of the Planning and Building Department, and Acting Director of the Long Beach Airport.
In 2014, Reggie was recognized by Leadership Long Beach for being one of its 25 “Most Impactful Alumni” – having the biggest impact on the Long Beach community over the past 25 years. Additionally, in 2014 Reggie received media attention for his leadership in making Long Beach one of a few cities in the country to serve as a beta site for the testing of an earthquake early warning system. Further notable accomplishments as the DPEC Director include: the creation of an alternate 9-1-1 center in the event the primary site is inoperable; the implementation of Alert Long Beach, a mass notification system to issue emergency alerts to residents and businesses; participation in the launch of the Text to 9-1-1 system; and update of numerus City disaster preparedness plans.
Reggie is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the California Army National Guard. He has a master’s degree in Business Administration and an undergraduate degree in Psychology. He and his family reside in Long Beach, where he is an active participant in the community and a member of several boards and commissions.
Thank you Reggie for all you have done for the Long Beach community!
