Chris Geldart

Vice President, Crisis Management

Chris Geldart is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in both public and private sector operations. He is a public safety, homeland security, and emergency management subject matter expert with 33 years of professional experience at the Federal, regional, state, and local levels. Most recently, appointed by Washington DC Mayor Bowser, Chris served as the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice, having oversight of the 12 agencies/offices that make up the Public Safety and Justice cluster in the nation’s capital. Most prominent agencies, include the Metropolitan Police Department, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Office of Unified Communications, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. As Deputy Mayor, Chris was instrumental in developing and supporting policies and programs to improve the delivery of services by government agencies and contracted providers, including the coordination of interagency activities and initiatives; Identifying opportunities for reducing redundancies, leveraging resources, creating economies of scale; ensuring compliance with local and federal mandates and improving public safety and emergency management outcomes.

Chris was also previously appointed by Mayor Brower as the Director of the Department of Public Works, directing the daily operations of a 1,400-employee operation of the three distinct administrations that make up the DC Department of Public Works. Prior to his appointment as Director of Public Works, Chris served from June 2012 to April 2017 as Director of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management. As a member of the mayor’s cabinet Chris ensured that the District of Columbia and the National Capital Region’s (NCR) all-hazards emergency operations capabilities were prepared to protect against, plan for, respond to, and recover from all hazards natural and human-caused events. This included serving as the city-wide coordinating official during emergencies, disasters, and National Special Security Events and maintain the 24/7 District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In this role, Chris’ responsibilities also included serving as the Interim Director of the Office of Unified Communications, DCs combined 911 and 311 agencies. Prior to serving the District, Chris founded and directed G2 Solutions L.L.C., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business providing advisory services to emergency management and homeland security clients as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Chris was appointed as Assistant Director at the State of Maryland, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security where he developed and lead a Joint Program Executive Office that organized the state enterprise to effectively execute the $400 million homeland security program. Developed and institutionalized the implementation plans for the state’s strategies for preparedness, response, and recovery for all hazards. Developed and oversaw comprehensive capability development for the entire state to include jurisdictions in the NCR. Served as Maryland’s leadership representative for program development and oversight in the NCR. Earlier in his career, and following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Chris was appointed by the President to serve as the Director of the Office of National Capital Region (NCR) Coordination for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), served three years as Chris began his civilian career as an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, and served 12 years in the United States Marine Corps. Chris holds a Bracteolate of Arts in History from the University of Maryland, and is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, War Fighting, Command and Control, Marine Corps Planning Systems.