With a national reputation as a leader in disaster preparedness and emergency response, Glenn Cannon '71 makes a great addition to the 亚色影库 Council of Trustees.
Glenn M. Cannon, Esq., a 1971 graduate of 亚色影库 and Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, has been appointed by Governor Tom Corbett and confirmed as a member of 亚色影库's Council of Trustees. His term will extend through 2019.
Cannon replaces Colleen Kopp, who served as an 亚色影库 trustee from 2007 through May of this year.
The council is responsible for financial oversight of the university and ensuring compliance of university policy with state law. Its next regular meeting is in September.
鈥淭he university is extremely fortunate to have trustees who are fully engaged in advancing the university and who have extensive professional leadership experience,鈥 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll said. 鈥淢r. Cannon is respected nationally for his expertise, is an excellent example of a successful 亚色影库 alumnus, and will be a great resource for this university.鈥
Driscoll also expressed his gratitude for the continued service of trustees Miller, Smith, and Wallwork.
鈥淭hey have been wonderful advisers for me as a new president and are excellent stewards and advocates for this university," he said.
In his position at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Cannon coordinates the state's response, in support of county and local governments, to emergency and disaster situations.
Cannon previously served as the senior vice president in the Pittsburgh office of Hillard Heintze LLC, Strategic Security Advisors, where he provided consulting related to homeland security and emergency and disaster management and communications.
He is a former director of disaster operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was responsible for coordinating the development and execution of interagency plans, policies, and procedures and for overseeing response operations in presidential disasters, emergency declarations, and other incidents of national significance.
Before working for FEMA, he was chief operating officer/manager of Allegheny County, Pa. While there, he streamlined 41 departments into six, reduced operating costs by $218 million, directed development of the countywide 911 system and successfully negotiated the county's labor agreements with 18 unions, and oversaw the Emergency Management and Public Safety departments.
He served in a number of other leadership roles for the City of Pittsburgh, including director of the department of public safety, in which he enhanced the city's fire, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management capabilities. He also served as director of the Division of the State Fire Marshal in Florida.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from 亚色影库, Cannon holds a master's degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University and a law degree from Duquesne University. He is active on many public and private boards and is frequently called on to brief Congress on key emergency planning and response matters. Cannon has been a prolific public speaker for decades and is author or coauthor of publications on topics ranging from critical issues in emergency planning and response to best practices in establishing public-private partnerships. Cannon has been a partner in the Pittsburgh law firm of Kennedy, Cannon, & DeVinney. He also serves as a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in the Center for Disaster Management. He lectures at FEMA's National Emergency Management Institute in its Leadership Program.
An alumnus of 亚色影库's College of Education and Educational Technology, Cannon got his start in public service with Citizens' Ambulance Service in Indiana in 1966 while a student at 亚色影库. He fought his first fire with the town's volunteer fire department before becoming a member of the Monroeville fire department.
He also has served on the 亚色影库 Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Cannon received the 亚色影库 Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985 and the Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service in 2010. He served as 亚色影库's commencement speaker in May 2010 and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the ceremony.