CAPCOG recognized W. Nim Kidd, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) chief, with the Jack Griesenbeck Leadership in Regionalism Award for his commitment to disaster prevention, protection mitigation, response and recovery at a regional level. “When the bell rings, you have a partner you can call on, and many times he will call you first,” said Bastrop County Judge and CAPCOG Chair Paul Pape of Kidd before presenting him with the award during the December General Assembly meeting.
“All disasters are local, and our job is to support you,” Kidd said thanking CAPCOG for the honor. The real emergency management work is done locally, and he and TDEM want to work with local jurisdictions as efficiently as possible through disaster planning and recovery efforts. Kidd has served as the TDEM chief for nearly 12 years; he also serves as a Vice Chancellor for Disaster and Emergency Services at Texas A&M University, is a member of the Texas Emergency Management Council, and the Chair of the FEMA National Advisory Council.
“Chief Kidd is a great regional partner and believer in using the COGs to coordinate with city and county officials to plan and train for disasters,” commented CAPCOG Executive Director Betty Voights, “this approach has served us well through wildfires, extreme flooding, a winter storm, and the pandemic.”
The Jack Griesenbeck Leadership in Regionalism Awards is named a former County Bastrop County Judge who served as CAPCOG’s first chair in 1970 and the first president of the Texas Association of Regional Councils. It honors someone who plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Capital Area through their actions and who consistently advocates for a regional and multijurisdictional approach through their work. Previous awardees have included people such as Texas Senator and former Austin Mayor, Kirk Watson; former Texas Department of Transportation Austin District Engineer, Bob Daigh; Senator Gonzalo Barrientos; Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe; and State Representative, Paul Workman.
