Director of City Services & International Broadcast Center
Email: rocky@dallasfwc26.com
Rocky Vaz retired in January 2024 as the Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for the City of Dallas, culminating a distinguished 36-year career with the city government. His tenure spanned various critical roles, with the last 12 years dedicated to leading Dallas’ Emergency Management efforts. As a key member of the Executive Management team, Mr. Vaz coordinated comprehensive programs to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters.
During his leadership, Mr. Vaz managed homeland security grant programs exceeding $150 million, enhancing Dallas’ resilience to emergencies. Under his guidance, Dallas became the second largest city in the nation to achieve full accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). He spearheaded the expansion of Dallas Alert, the city’s emergency notification system, and initiated a city-wide community preparedness campaign to educate and empower residents.
Throughout his career, Mr. Vaz successfully orchestrated Dallas’ response to numerous significant events, including the 2014 Ebola crisis, 2015 severe flooding, the 2016 police shooting in Downtown Dallas, and the 2019 EF3 tornado. His expertise also guided the city through complex operations such as managing a mega shelter for Hurricane Harvey evacuees and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with testing, vaccination sites, and quarantine facilities.
Before his tenure as OEM Director, Mr. Vaz managed the City’s Fund Development/Grants section within the Intergovernmental Services Department, establishing protocols for homeland security grant monitoring and federal reporting.
Post-retirement, Rocky Vaz continues to contribute to the field of Emergency Management and Homeland Security as an independent contractor. He offers his expertise to local governments, non-profits, and various public and private sector industries, ensuring they are prepared to effectively manage emergencies and ensure community resilience.
