ALTOONA, IA, April 09, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Deanne Bennett Criswell has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Criswell currently serves as a strategic advisor for The Criswell Group, a role she began in 2025. In this capacity, she provides expert guidance on emergency management strategies and organizational resilience, drawing on her extensive experience in both public and private sectors. Additionally, she serves as a board member for AidKit, contributing to initiatives that support vulnerable populations during crises.

Prior to her current role, Ms. Criswell held the distinguished position of administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 2021 to 2025. During this tenure, she achieved her most notable professional milestone by reaching the highest level within her profession. She is particularly proud of shifting the agency's focus toward prioritizing people in disaster response and recovery efforts. She implemented an equitable focus in FEMA's strategic plan, establishing equity as a foundational principle in emergency management and ensuring that assistance after disasters was delivered through an equitable lens.

Before her federal appointment, Ms. Criswell served as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management from 2019 to 2021. In this role, she oversaw the city's preparedness and response operations for a range of emergencies, including natural disasters and public health crises, to include COVID 19. She was also a principal at The Cadmus Group in Washington, D.C., where she provided consulting services focused on emergency preparedness and resilience planning for governmental and private sector clients.

Ms. Criswell's earlier federal service includes leading the National Incident Management Assistance Team at FEMA from 2014 to 2017 and a part of FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Cadre for the preceding two years. Her career also includes over two decades with the Colorado Air National Guard, where she served from 1992 to 2013. Her leadership contributed to operational readiness and earned her recognition as Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, along with multiple awards and decorations from the Colorado Air National Guard. Concurrently, from 2005 to 2011, she was the emergency manager for the City of Aurora.

Ms. Criswell's academic background has been instrumental in shaping her career trajectory. She earned a Master of Arts in security studies with a concentration in homeland security and defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2011. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.

Throughout her career, Ms. Criswell has attributed her achievements to mentorship from exceptional leaders who encouraged her to embrace new challenges and step outside her comfort zone. She also credits her willingness to accept personal risk as a key factor in opening doors to new opportunities and emphasizes this philosophy when mentoring young women entering the field.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Criswell has maintained active involvement with civic-minded organizations. She was named a senior fellow at Yale University in 2024, where she found teaching future emergency management leaders especially rewarding. She also serves as a board member of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, where she contributes to advancing equity and inclusion within the field.

Born in Ludington, Michigan, Ms. Criswell enjoys hiking, biking and participating in triathlons during her personal time. She is supported by her partner, Patrick, and takes great pride in her two sons, who have been steadfast supporters throughout her career as a working mother. Additionally, she cherishes time spent with her three grandchildren and looks forward to watching them grow and develop.

Looking ahead, Ms. Criswell intends to continue assisting emergency managers nationwide in advancing their profession while maintaining an equitable approach to program delivery. She also seeks opportunities to train future leaders in emergency management and contribute further through teaching at higher education institutions.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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