Leadership
About Mark Ghilarducci
PRESIDENT + CEO, EMERGENT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Recognized as one the nation’s leading emergency managers, Mark Ghilarducci boasts four decades of exceptional service in public safety, government management, and crisis management across local, state, federal, and private sectors. His leadership spans diverse roles, including his influential tenure at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and his involvement in shaping policy, disaster response, and international crisis management. Mark Ghilarducci’s distinguished career showcases his unwavering commitment to public safety, crisis management, and disaster recovery. His extensive experience across multiple sectors and his visionary initiatives have left an indelible mark on California, the nation, and the world.
RECOGNITION & HONORS
Ghilarducci has earned numerous accolades for his contributions. Notably, the National Emergency Management Association awarded him the prestigious Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award, and the National Governor’s Association honored him with the National Distinguished Service Award. National Governors Association- Governors Homeland Security Advisory Council honored him with the Distinguished Service Award and he was recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his exemplary leadership during the response to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City
Key Achievements
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From 2012-2023, Ghilarducci directed the Emergency Services and Homeland Security for California, the nation’s most populous and diverse state. He played a pivotal role in coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts, addressing unprecedented wildfires, droughts, security threats, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Ghilarducci spearheaded groundbreaking projects, including modernizing California’s 911 system, implementing the nation’s first Earthquake Early Warning System, launching the California Cybersecurity Integration Center, and designing the Wildfire Forecast & Threat Intelligence Integration Center.
From 1997-2000, Ghilarducci served as a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Under President Clinton, with FEMA, leading federal disaster response and recovery efforts nationwide. He played a key role in developing disaster policies and represented the White House in response to various crises.
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In the private sector, Ghilarducci’s leadership extended to crisis management, hazard mitigation, security, and government affairs. He has supported governments, NGOs and public safety organizations globally, aiding disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.
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Ghilarducci holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Davis. He graduated from the Fellowship Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
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As of 2021, Ghilarducci joined the Board of Directors of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), championing fire and life safety worldwide
As of 2023, Ghilarducci sits as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the largest University System in the nation, the California State University System (CSU), further contributing to education and leadership
