# Erik A. Hooks

**Office of the Administrator**
Deputy Administrator

In 2021 Erik A. Hooks was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the Deputy Administrator of FEMA.

The Deputy Administrator assists the Administrator in providing executive leadership of FEMA and ensures all programs and activities are effectively coordinated in preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating against the risk of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

Deputy Administrator Hooks effectively serves as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer, providing leadership to approximately 20,000 professionals and executing on an approximate 30 billion-dollar budget.

Deputy Administrator Hooks also serves as the Key Intelligence Official for FEMA, responsible for Homeland Security Information and National Intelligence. 

Deputy Administrator Hooks is a voting member of the Homeland Security Intelligence Council (HSIC): The DHS functional advisory body that assists the Chief Intelligence Officer in evaluating and determining the best course of action for the Intelligence Council. 

Deputy Administrator Hooks is also a voting member of the Counter Threat Advisory Board (CTAB): The DHS functional advisory body with the responsibility to coordinate efforts related to departmental intelligence activities, policies, and information related to the mission and functions of the department that counters all threats and hazards.

Prior to his service as the Deputy Administrator of FEMA, Hooks was appointed by the Governor of North Carolina as the Secretary of Public Safety and the State’s Homeland Security Advisor in January 2017. Secretary Hooks was the sole representative on the governor's cabinet for the state's law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security, and corrections responsibilities. Secretary Hooks retired from state service on August 1, 2021.

Secretary Hooks provided cabinet level leadership to the NC Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Section, The NC National Guard, The NC State Highway Patrol, The NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, the NC State Capitol Police, The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, the NC Office of Recovery and Resilience, the Governor’s Crime Commission, and support divisions within the Department of Public Safety.

Secretary Hooks led the largest state government agency in North Carolina, executing on over an approximate 2.1-billion-dollar budget; leading approximately 27,000 sworn and civilian public safety professionals as well as approximately 12,000 National Guard soldiers and Airmen.

A dedicated public servant, having more than 30 years of law enforcement and public safety experience, including over 27 years with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, where he rose to the rank of Assistant Director in 2005, Hooks served in various leadership capacities prior to his appointment as Secretary.

Deputy Administrator Hooks successfully completed the FBI National Executive Institute and the Commandant’s National Security Program at the U.S. Army War College.

Deputy Administrator Hooks has also served on the Executive Committee of the National Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council and is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the FBI National Executive Institute Associates. 

Last updated November 22, 2023

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