Former Narragansett Chief Resigns from EMA Post to Take Salve Job

Governor Lincoln D. Chafee announced Monday that Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Executive Director J. David Smith will resign on July 30 to pursue a career in academia.

Smith is a Narragansett resident, and previously served as the town’s police chief, before current chief F. Dean Hoxsie and former chief Joseph Little Jr. Smith has accepted the position of Director of Criminal Justice Graduate Studies at Salve Regina University in Newport, of which he is an alumnus.

“In his three years at RIEMA, Executive Director Smith has made tremendous strides in making that organization not only ready for any possible scenario, but proactive in terms of emergency preparedness,” Chafee said. “He has demonstrated significant leadership and managerial ability in a difficult, demanding position. During the historic floods last year, he led RIEMA with skill and dedication. All Rhode Islanders owe him gratitude for his service.”

“Director J. David Smith has been instrumental in increasing our state’s capacity with a more comprehensive approach to emergency preparedness and response,” Lt. Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts, the chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council, said. “Under his leadership, EMAC’s Domestic Preparedness Subcommittee has been able to reduce redundancy, enhance the state’s communications through the 800 MHz system, and focus on improved collaboration.”

“This was a tremendously difficult decision for me to make,” Smith said. “This is not a case of me leaving RIEMA, but rather of an exciting and unexpected opportunity that presented itself, one that I simply could not pass up.”

“Over the last three years, we have worked hard to build an exceptional staff and a first rate team of emergency management professionals,” Smith continued. “There is no question that RIEMA has undergone considerable improvement in that time and will continue to evolve and change for the better. I have no doubt that I am leaving the organization in capable hands from top to bottom, and that Rhode Islanders can feel safe and secure knowing the RIEMA is prepared for any unforeseen event.”

“It has been a great privilege to be a part of such a fine team and organization,” Smith concluded. “I want to thank Governor Chafee and his staff for understanding my desire to return to my alma mater, Salve Regina. I am thrilled to work in a classroom environment, where I will have the opportunity to use my homeland security and emergency management perspective to encourage students to pursue careers in law enforcement and public safety, to serve their state and their country.”

Prior to joining RIEMA, Smith had served as Chief of Police for Narragansett and Westerly. He also served as Director of Public Safety and Transportation for Roger Williams University. He is a past president of the Police Chiefs Association.

Release courtesy of Governor Chafee’s office.