MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) DeLano, Barnett, Branning, DeBar, England, Fillingane, Hopson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Michel, Simmons (13th), Sparks, Thompson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE OF RETIRED COLONEL GREGORY S. MICHEL UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (MEMA) AND EXTENDING THE BEST WISHES OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE.
WHEREAS, Governor Tate Reeves has announced that after serving since June 2016, Colonel (Ret) Greg Michel will retire from his role as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, marking the end of a rare tenure for a Pike County resident to oversee a state agency; and
WHEREAS, Greg Michel led the state's response to 21 federally declared disasters, 11 of which occurred in 2020 alone. Governor Tate Reeves thanked Michel for his service during his term which, in addition to the pandemic and his own bout with the virus, saw a record-breaking number of tornadoes, the most active hurricane season in history, and historic flooding in the Mississippi Delta. "There's one person that I've been able to constantly lean on for exceptional work. When he says he's going to do something, you know it's going to happen. He deals in results and he's made a tremendous difference this past year of what seems like constant emergencies," Governor Reeves noted before signing a proclamation honoring his work; and
WHEREAS, Gregory Michel was reappointed by Governor Tate Reeves as Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) on December 19, 2019. Director Michel previously served as Executive Director of MEMA for Governor Phil Bryant. Since assuming the helm of MEMA, he has led the state's coordinating agency through nine Presidential Disaster Declarations; and
WHEREAS, when Governor Phil Bryant appointed Colonel Gregory Michel as Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, he stated "Colonel Michel brings a wealth of experience to MEMA as we enter the heart of hurricane season. He served the people of Mississippi and our nation for almost three decades as a member of our National Guard, defending our freedom and ensuring our national security at home and abroad. I am certain that service will continue in his new role, and I am delighted he has accepted this appointment"; and
WHEREAS, we extend the thanks of a grateful state to Colonel Michel and his family for the expert service of this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and recognize the dedicated public service of Colonel (Ret) Gregory S. Michel upon the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and extend the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate to Colonel Michel and his family for future success.
be it further resolved, that this resolution be presented to Gregory Michel, forwarded to Governor Tate Reeves and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.