Don Boyce was a panelist for the Forum’s discussion on The Boston Marathon Bombings.
Don R. Boyce is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for HHS/ASPR and Director of the Office of Emergency Management. In this capacity, he oversees the federal government’s primary planning and response arm for public health and medical emergency support, known as Emergency Support Function # 8 of the National Response Framework. His office manages the HHS Continuity of Operations Program, the 24/7 Secretary’s Operations Center, the Regional Emergency Coordinator Group, the National Disaster Medical System, the Hospital Preparedness Program and the Department’s leadership of the Public Health and Medical Services Sector of the Homeland Security’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Program, and health and human services recovery functions as they apply to Presidential Preparedness Directive 8 (PPD8).
Prior to his position with HHS, Mr. Boyce served as the regional administrator for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1 at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he was responsible for all FEMA mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities in the six New England states comprising Region 1.
Prior to federal service, Mr. Boyce served as director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency where he was responsible for coordinating response operations across the Commonwealth during large scale natural and man-made disasters. In that position, he led state and local officials in statewide efforts to develop, direct, and implement all-hazards emergency management plans and created the Emergency Management Directors Advisory Committee to open communications between state agencies and local communities. He also designed and implemented a mobile response capability bringing technology and resource management capabilities to remote disaster locations. During his tenure he served on numerous state emergency management commissions and boards of directors.
Previously, Mr. Boyce served as the corporate director of Emergency Management for Continuum Health Partners in New York City, where he worked with state and local officials on surge initiatives, emergency response plans, and bioterrorism initiatives. He was also the board advisor for the New York City Fire Department on 911 Ambulance Service in New York City.
Mr. Boyce began his distinguished career with the New York City Fire Department and the New York City Emergency Medical Service.
Mr. Boyce holds a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, is a graduate of and guest lecturer for the Harvard National Preparedness Leadership Institute and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.
