Missouri SEMA Director Ron Walker to retire

February 6, 2020 at 5:03 a.m. | Updated February 6, 2020 at 5:08 a.m.

by Joe Gamm

Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker is retiring early. Walker will use accrued paid time off to complete his service as of April 1. Deputy Director James Remillard will step in as acting director. Having worked within the state for more than 40 years, Walker has spent a lifetime serving Missouri residents. He graduated from Jefferson City High School and was a Jefferson City police officer from July 1977 to May 1978. He entered the Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy's 47th Recruit Class on June 1, 1978. After graduation, he accepted an assignment in Henry County. The Highway Patrol promoted Walker to corporal in 1989 and assigned him to Benton County. Three years later, he became a sergeant within the county. Walker transferred to the Professional Standards Division in Jefferson City after another three years. In 1998, he was promoted to lieutenant. And, he became a captain in 2001. At that time, he was designated the assistant commander of the Field Operations Bureau. Walker retired from the Highway Patrol in 2013. A year later, then-Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Walker to direct the state agency. For a time, Walker became deputy director, then Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten again made Walker director of SEMA. "Ron Walker represents the highest ideals of public service and has dedicated his career to making the citizens of Missouri safer and our communities more resilient," Karsten said in a news release. "At SEMA, Ron has led the state's response and recovery operations to major flooding and tornado disasters, built stronger relationships with our local, federal and faith-based and volunteer response partners, and innovated in the use of technology and how SEMA responds to and prepares for disasters."
Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker is retiring early. Walker will use accrued paid time off to complete his service as of April 1. Deputy Director James Remillard will step in as acting director. Having worked within the state for more than 40 years, Walker has spent a lifetime serving Missouri residents. He graduated from Jefferson City High School and was a Jefferson City police officer from July 1977 to May 1978. He entered the Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy's 47th Recruit Class on June 1, 1978. After graduation, he accepted an assignment in Henry County. The Highway Patrol promoted Walker to corporal in 1989 and assigned him to Benton County. Three years later, he became a sergeant within the county. Walker transferred to the Professional Standards Division in Jefferson City after another three years. In 1998, he was promoted to lieutenant. And, he became a captain in 2001. At that time, he was designated the assistant commander of the Field Operations Bureau. Walker retired from the Highway Patrol in 2013. A year later, then-Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Walker to direct the state agency. For a time, Walker became deputy director, then Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten again made Walker director of SEMA. "Ron Walker represents the highest ideals of public service and has dedicated his career to making the citizens of Missouri safer and our communities more resilient," Karsten said in a news release. "At SEMA, Ron has led the state's response and recovery operations to major flooding and tornado disasters, built stronger relationships with our local, federal and faith-based and volunteer response partners, and innovated in the use of technology and how SEMA responds to and prepares for disasters."

Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker is retiring early.

Walker will use accrued paid time off to complete his service as of April 1.

Deputy Director James Remillard will step in as acting director.

Having worked within the state for more than 40 years, Walker has spent a lifetime serving Missouri residents.

He graduated from Jefferson City High School and was a Jefferson City police officer from July 1977 to May 1978.

He entered the Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy's 47th Recruit Class on June 1, 1978. After graduation, he accepted an assignment in Henry County. The Highway Patrol promoted Walker to corporal in 1989 and assigned him to Benton County. Three years later, he became a sergeant within the county.

Walker transferred to the Professional Standards Division in Jefferson City after another three years. In 1998, he was promoted to lieutenant. And, he became a captain in 2001.

At that time, he was designated the assistant commander of the Field Operations Bureau.

Walker retired from the Highway Patrol in 2013.

A year later, then-Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Walker to direct the state agency. For a time, Walker became deputy director, then Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten again made Walker director of SEMA.

"Ron Walker represents the highest ideals of public service and has dedicated his career to making the citizens of Missouri safer and our communities more resilient," Karsten said in a news release. "At SEMA, Ron has led the state's response and recovery operations to major flooding and tornado disasters, built stronger relationships with our local, federal and faith-based and volunteer response partners, and innovated in the use of technology and how SEMA responds to and prepares for disasters."

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