Larry Woods Named Interim Director at Office of Emergency Management

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Greene County Commission announced today the appointment of Larry Woods as the Interim Director of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Woods replaces Ryan Nicholls (right) who was recently selected to head up the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Jefferson City.

Read More: Ryan Nicholls Named Director of State Emergency Management Agency

In appointing Woods, County Administrator Tim Smith said, "We are very pleased Larry has agreed to step in and lead OEM during this transition time. Given his long service to the citizens of Greene County and his professional credentials, it was an easy choice." Smith concluded, "We needed to ensure continuity of operations and mission; there is no one better equipped to handle this critical role than Larry Woods." 

Woods appointment is effective immediately.  Woods noted, "It is a privilege to have been asked to fill this position and I am grateful for the confidence expressed to me by Mr. Smith and the County Commission." He also said, "I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of ensuring the delivery of world-class emergency management for the citizens of Greene County."

Woods has been with the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management for 13-years, the last 11 years as Assistant Director.  He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Emergency Managers Association, a Missouri Certified Emergency Manager (MoCEM) through the Missouri Emergency Preparedness Association and is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Previously he was the Emergency Management Director/911 Coordinator for Laclede County, Missouri.

Woods is active in the Southwest Missouri Emergency Support Organization and is a member of the Southwest Missouri Incident Support Team (IST) where he serves as a Plans and Operations Section Chief.  He also serves as the State Planning Section Chief for the Missouri Disaster Response System (MODRS), a team tasked with medical and mass fatalities response to disasters within the State of Missouri. He serves as an Emergency Planning Analyst on the Central-Incident Response Coordination Team (IRCT) for the National Disaster Medical System under the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Larry and his wife Natalie of 21 years reside in Springfield with their three children.