David E. LeBlanc

The Natural Hazards Mission Area safeguards the Nation’s safety, security, and economy through timely application of science products that foster community resilience and support operational sustainment. The Emergency Management Team provides support to major hazard incidents and works to ensure that the Survey fulfills its missions without interruption.

I started my Emergency Management career in 2003, working for various California state agencies where I authored response plans and staffed Emergency Operations Centers. I started my federal career with the Bureau of Reclamation, where for 14 years I supported the Dams Sector in preparing for and responding to water-related emergencies, from drought to excess inflows and infrastructure failures. Throughout my career, much of my work has involved community outreach and coordination with local, state, tribal and federal response agencies, including Non-Governmental Organizations, law enforcement, fire/rescue, public health, and other entities with community safety responsibilities. 

With over two decades in state and federal Emergency Management, I am driven by the desire to ensure that communities and agencies with emergency response authority are best prepared to respond to and abate disasters, thereby minimizing impacts to vulnerable populations. I am passionate about Emergency Management training and ensuring that our workforce is as personally and professionally prepared as it can be. To me, resilience is a mindset and a way of life, not a plan in a folder.