Reeves Brown, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), has announced the selection of David Hard as the director of the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and Tony Hernandez, as director of the Division of Local Government (DLG).
About Dave Hard's appointment, Director Brown said, "I am so pleased Dave Hard will be coming on board to lead the Division of Emergency Management. His experience in emergency management and local government as a fire chief will serve him well in this position and brings an important perspective that will benefit Colorado communities."
Dave Hard will join the Division starting June 1, 2011. He has a career in fire safety and emergency management that spans more than three decades. A returning Colorado resident, Hard served the state of Oregon for several years as Fire Chief for the Jackson County Fire District No. 3 from 2007 - 2010, and the Klamath County Fire District No. 1 from 2004 - 2007.
He also served as Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal of Oregon's Ashland Fire & Rescue from 1999 - 2004. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Fire Chief of the Glendale Fire Department in Colorado from 1978 - 1999.
About Tony Hernandez' selection, Brown said, "Tony's depth of experience and distinguished career serve Colorado local governments and communities well. He is an asset to the department and the work we do on behalf of Colorado."
Hernandez has served as the Division's director since December 2008 and was selected to continue his work in this State Executive Service (SES) position for another two year contract.
Hernandez served as Director of Fannie Mae's Colorado Business Center since 1998, during which he oversaw the House Colorado Investment Plan which directed $15 billion of investments toward assisting at least 135,000 families.
Prior to joining the Fannie Mae Corporation, Hernandez was appointed by Secretary Henry Cisneros as the HUD Regional Administrator for the Rocky Mountain States from 1994 to 1998. Tony was responsible for the administration of all HUD funded programs in the six-state Rocky Mountain Area of Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
He served in the Colorado legislature as a State Representative from 1984 to 1994, where he successfully carried legislation that enabled cities, counties and non-profit organizations to access money from the state's "Short-Term Loan Revolving Fund" to assist in acquiring land and building single, multi-family and handicapped accessible housing for low and moderate income people. In 1989, the Economic Councils of Colorado recognized Hernandez as the "Legislator of the Year" for making the most significant contributions to economic development in Colorado.
