EMAI Awards & Recognition Program

Recognizing the emergency management professionals, partners, and volunteers who strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation throughout Indiana.

Honoring Excellence. Strengthening Indiana.

Every year, the Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedication has advanced emergency management across the state.

We encourage members, partners, and agencies to nominate deserving colleagues who demonstrate leadership, service, innovation, and commitment to Indiana communities.

Award Categories

Charles “CR” Brown Award

Presented to an individual who has demonstrated long-term dedication, leadership, and service to emergency management in Indiana.

Response Operations Award

Recognizes individuals or agencies across public safety or partner organizations who have demonstrated effective leadership and coordination during a significant incident.

President’s Award

Chosen by the EMAI President, this award recognizes contributions that have made a meaningful difference to the profession, local programs, or the communities we serve.

Outstanding Partner Agency Award

Recognizes a non-EMA partner agency or organization that has significantly contributed to emergency management efforts.

Incident Recovery Award

Recognizes individuals or agencies who have demonstrated leadership and coordination in post-incident recovery efforts.

IDHS Award

Recognizes a member of IDHS for outstanding service and support to local and county emergency management programs.

Emerging Leader Award

Recognizes a newer emergency management professional who has demonstrated initiative, leadership potential, and commitment to the field.

Full Award Descriptions

2026 Nomination Timeline

Eligibility & Guidelines

  • Any person working in the emergency management or public safety fields may nominate a colleague for an award.

  • Yes!

  • The EMAI Board Awards & Recognition Committee receives all nominations and reviews for completeness. These are then forwarded to the entire EMAI Board for discussion and selection of winners.

  • Examples of documentation to include:

    • Letters of Recommendation.

    • A description of accomplishments achieved by the nominee to articulate why the nominee is a worthy award.

    • Illustrate how the nominee has performed emergency management-related tasks in a superior capacity.

    • Any examples of programs implemented by the nominee that demonstrate leadership and initiative.

    • A description of the nominee’s emergency management experience.

    • Any of the nominee’s non-work-related community contributions.

  • Nominations will be accepted through September 18, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

  • Yes! The process is the same as nominating someone else.

  • Yes, but you will need to submit a form for each nominee.

  • The awards recognition team of:

    Jennifer Tobey jtobey@elkhartcounty.com

    Matt Goebel mgoebel@warrickcounty.gov

Nominate a Deserving Individual or Organization

Please complete the form below. All nominations MUST be submitted by September 18, 2026.