EMA Staff

The staff at the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency works for you. Our administrative offices are located in the basement of the City of Huntsville Public Service Building, 320 Fountain Circle, Huntsville, Alabama 35801. All of our staff members can be reached by calling (256) 427-5130, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., excluding City of Huntsville holidays. Our fax number is (256) 427-5140. After normal business hours, Huntsville Fire & Rescue Communications answers our number and has 24 hour contact with EMA staff.

All members of our staff are members of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers (AAEM) as well as the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Most of the staff members hold professional certification through the Association as well.

Administrative Division

John "Rusty" Russell, Jr. - Director

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
President, Region IV - International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
Member FEMA Region IV Advisory Committee
Past President, Alabama Association of Emergency Managers
Past President, North Alabama Mutual Assistance Association
Recipient, President's Volunteer Service Award
Member, National Peer Review Panel 2006 and 2007
Alternate Radiological Officer
CERT Instructor

Rusty was hired on as the Huntsville-Madison County EMA Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist in 1996. He served as an Emergency Management Officer and later the Emergency Operations Coordinator before being appointed Director in December 2001. His background is in U.S. Army Pershing Missile System operations and as Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for the Army Material Command's Logistic Support Activity at Redstone Arsenal prior to retiring in 1996 with twenty-two years of service.

Rusty was designated as Madison County's point of contact for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security by the Madison County Commission Chairman. Rusty was also selected as the regional point of contact for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security by fellow Homeland Security contacts in the 10 northeastern counties.

Rusty served as President of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers as well as three terms as President of the North Alabama Mutual Assitance Association. He is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers where he is the southeastern region President representing the eight southeastern states. Rusty is a technician level amateur radio operator. Electronics and woodworking are his main hobbies.

Rusty and his wife Kirsten live in Northern Madison County and enjoy many outdoor activities.

Bill Sizemore - Accountant III

Certified Floodplain Manager

As the Emergency Management Agency's Accountant, Bill assists the director in development of our budget, maintains records concerning grant monies, maintains records of the agency's inventory, as well as keeping track of expenditures.

Bill has a B.B.A. degree in Accounting from Athens State University and has a background in retail management and insurance. Bill is also a licensed aircraft pilot.

Candy Sumlin - Secretary II

Candy began working with the City of Huntsville in 1999 as a Records Clerk with the Huntsville Police Department. Candy transferred to the Emergency Management Agency in September, 2005 as a Secretary. She performs advanced professional secretarial duties to support a multi-jurisdictional emergency response program that is consistent with local ordinances, resolutions and state and federal laws. Her responsibilities involve the performance of confidential administrative details for the Director, Administrative Division, Plans Division and Operations Division. She is also responsible for performing general accounting work and the preparation of some financial reports.

Candy also has prior experience as a dispatcher with the Huntsville Fire Department. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. Candy lives in Harvest, AL with her 3 children.

Emergency Plans Division

Kirk Paradise - Emergency Plans Coordinator & County Radiological Officer

Intermediate Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Madison County Fallout Shelter Manager

Kirk Paradise serves as the Emergency Plans Coordinator. His task is to track all the plans and procedures the agency is involved with, make sure they are updated and distributed to the using agencies. He also is the County Radiological Officer and Shelter Officer and assists in training as a Radiological Monitor Instructor. He has worked for the agency since 1979 and has prior experience as a Disaster Preparedness Officer in the Air Force. His education and training includes a BS degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a MS degree from UAH plus numerous training courses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Kirk is married to the former Diana Pollack. They have three sons.

Operations Division

Jim Pockrus - Operations Coordinator

Certified Emergency Manager (International Association of Emergency Managers)
Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

Jim is tasked with overseeing the Agency's Operations Division as well as the Huntsville - Madison County outdoor warning system consisting of over 100 sirens. Jim is also responsible for keeping track of EMA's vehicle maintenance, severe weather operations, as well as facility issues for the Agency such as generator back up power systems. Jim also assists other staff members with responding to emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations. Jim also serves as EMA's liaison to the Alabama State Defense Force and is a member of the American Meteorological Society.

Jim's background is in aviation. Jim has a Airline Transport Pilot's License and has 23 years experience in all aspects of aviation, including military, general and corporate aviation and airline pilot. Jim has a B. S. degree in Business Administration and is a licensed technician class amateur radio operator as well.

Scott Worsham - Emergency Management Officer

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

Scott is responsible for the Agency's natural hazards programs, web pages, Citizen Corps Council & Community Emergency Response Team program, EMA's Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) unit, and assisting other staff members with answering emergency call-outs to hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations.

Scott was raised in the Hazel Green community of northern Madison County and has been active in emergency services since 1990 when he began volunteering with the Madison County Sheriff's Department while still in high school. He has previously worked as a 911 operator/dispatcher (both law enforcement and fire/rescue) and currently works part time as a police officer in addition to his duties at EMA. Scott has an A.S. in Police Science. He is a licensed technician class amateur radio operator and a member of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club. He is Treasurer of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. Scott serves as Madison County's Citizen Corps Council Chair.

Jared Cassidy - Emergency Management Officer

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Radiological Monitor Trainer
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

Jared is an Emergency Management Officer with the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency. He is primarily responsible for overseeing the Agency's Technological Hazards Program. He is also responsible for assisting the Emergency Plans Coordinator on developing plans for response to weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, radiological, hazardous material and enemy attack events. Additionally, Jared is responsible for overseeing Madison County’s involvement in the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program and the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). He also assists other staff members with answering emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations. He is local industry's primary point of contact for SARA Title III reporting for EPA compliance and serves as the Secretary of the Madison County Emergency Planning Committee.

Jared's background includes about 8 years of previous service to the Agency as a communications volunteer. Jared holds the designation of Advanced Emergency Manager from the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers for completing over 700 hours of instruction in emergency management and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Emergency Management. Jared is a licensed extra class amateur radio operator as well.

Chris Reed - Emergency Management Officer

Basic Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Fallout Shelter Manager
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor

Chris is responsible for the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) readiness, communications equipment, agency computer systems and software issues, assisting with severe weather preparedness,training, and operations. Chris assists the other staff members with answering emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations.

Chris' background includes previous service in communications. He has broadcast communications experience with several local radio stations and began emergency services in 1995 for the City of Huntsville where he served as a 911 operator and dispatcher for both fire and law enforcement. Chris has an A.S. in mathematics and is pursuing a B.S. in Emergency Management. He is a licensed general class amateur radio operator and has served in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) for the past six years. Chris is also a member of the American Meteorological Society.

Paige Soehren - Emergency Management Officer

Basic Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)

Paige Soehren has a Bachelors in Communications from Jacksonville State University. She has experience writing and editing for newspaper, magazine, online publications, radio and television. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina changed Paige’s career path when she volunteered with the American Red Cross. Acting as the Spontaneous Volunteer Training Center Coordinator, she processed, trained, and prepared 326 spontaneous community volunteers to assist nearly 2000 Hurricane Katrina displaced families in Calhoun County AL. For the next year, she continued serving Katrina families and training the community in Disaster Preparedness, CPR and First Aid as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. She gained further experience as an American Red Cross employee and an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader for Habitat for Humanity.

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