Written by Laura Christmas

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — The Clay County Division of Emergency Management has new leadership. Tim Devin is the new Emergency Management Director.

Devin has been working in the Division as the Chief of Plans and came on board in November. This isn’t his first time serving the communities in Clay County - Devin started his career as a volunteer with Clay County Fire Rescue in 1985. “After my time in Clay, I started with Jacksonville Fire Rescue and that’s when I really fell in love with Emergency Management,” Devin said, “One of my first deployments was for Hurricane Andrew in 1992. That was the start of my experience in working large-scale disasters.” Devin was also the captain of the EMS training for Jacksonville Fire Rescue.

After that, his career spanned many Emergency Management and Public Safety roles that afforded him countless certifications, training, and experiences that lend themselves to a seamless transition into his new title. “I’ve traveled to disasters across the state, working with local, regional, and state incident management teams,” Devin said, “I’m proud to bring that experience back to Clay County.”

After retiring from JFRD, Devin started doing emergency management consulting for large local healthcare facilities. “It made me more rounded, seeing the government side and the private sector side,” Devin said.

He continues to be a member of multiple local and state committees and organizations dedicated to health, public safety, and emergency management.

The heart to serve in Clay County is shared by Devin’s family. His brother works with Clay County Fire Rescue, his son recently started with the same agency, and his daughter is a cadet. “It’s nice to be able to pass the experience I’ve gained to the next generation, to carry on that tradition,” Devin said, “I love what I do, and I’m proud to be doing it with my family.”

Mike Ladd, the previous Emergency Management Director and former Deputy Emergency Management Director, resigned from the position to spend time with his young family. “I cannot express my thanks adequately for the support and sense of team during my tenure. TEAM CLAY and CLAY EM are comprised of exceptional people who routinely make outcomes better,” Ladd said, “It was my honor to work with them all.”

Devin said he is looking forward to continuing those relationships that have been built over the years with the county’s law enforcement, health officials, and public safety, with one goal in mind - keeping Clay County prepared and safe when our residents need it most. “Clay County has a great foundation,” he said, “I’ve worked around its members for 20-plus years. It’s expounding that foundation, continuing the partnerships that we have, the sheriff’s office, the fire department, the department of health.”

WATCH: Emergency Management Director Tim Devin talks about his new role and some of his focus as he steps into it.



“The county is growing, we have an interstate that’s coming through, a bypass. It’s going to bring tremendous growth for Clay County so Emergency Management now has to take that extra step to ensure that we’re ready for all of that growth as well,” Devin explained, “The better that we do here and the partnerships that we have here, the better it is for the citizens.”

County Manager Howard Wanamaker, Fire Chief Lorin Mock, and Acting Fire Chief David Motes expressed their thanks to Ladd for his dedication to the Division and our County during emergencies and storms when strong leadership and public safety are paramount.

County leadership officially announced Devin’s new position on April 3.