Will County EMA Director Allison Anderson Honored with National and State Emergency Management Award

Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Allison Anderson has received two prestigious leadership recognitions from national and state agencies. These include being named one of the 2025 “40 Under 40” award recipients from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and receiving the O.D. Troutman Outstanding Service to Emergency Management Award from the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA).

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive these recognitions,” said Director Anderson. “Emergency management is a collaborative effort, and I’m grateful to work alongside such a dedicated team committed to protecting our residents.”

In being named as one of the 2025 IAEM “40 Under 40” award recipients in the United States, Director Anderson was noted as a nationwide emerging leader who has demonstrated innovation, dedication, and significant contributions to emergency management. The IEAM is a non-profit dedicated to promoting and representing emergency management professionals around the world.

Director Anderson also received the O.D. Troutman Outstanding Service to Emergency Management Award from the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, a distinguished state-level recognition that is given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional service to their agency, a high degree of professionalism, and a strong commitment to promoting emergency management principles across their organization and the broader community. The IESMA is comprised of emergency managers, emergency management staff, and private sector partners across the State of Illinois, enhancing the emergency management profession through mutual aid services, public relations and professional standards.

“Director Anderson is a passionate and tireless leader with a strong commitment to public safety,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “She has elevated emergency preparedness across our region, built strong local partnerships, and ensured our communities are more resilient in the face of crisis. We are incredibly proud of her continued leadership.”

Since being appointed in 2022, Director Anderson has expanded Will County EMA’s presence throughout the county and region, including by increasing training for first responders, launching innovative public outreach campaigns, and making strategic investments in modern emergency operations technologies.

For more information on Will County EMA, including opportunities for outreach and engagement, visit www.willcountyema.org.