[Archived] Mark Penn is Named Emergency Management Coordinator

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Feb. 3, 2004
PIO 024-04
For Immediate Release

Mark Penn Is Named Emergency Management Coordinator
For the City of Alexandria

City Manager Phil Sunderland announced this week the appointment of Mark Penn as the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator. Penn most recently served as Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management for Arlington County, the culmination of a 30-year career with the Arlington County Fire Department.

As Coordinator of Emergency Management, Penn will oversee the City’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and a staff of four. The City of Alexandria has placed an increased emphasis on emergency management and planning in response to the threat of terrorism and other major emergencies. Penn brings an extensive background in emergency management to the Alexandria position. He managed Arlington County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during the 9/11/01 attack on the Pentagon and continued in this capacity overseeing EOC operations involving the subsequent anthrax incidents, the sniper attacks, and Hurricane Isabel.

“All Alexandrians and City staff will benefit greatly from the experience and leadership Mark brings to our emergency management team,” said Sunderland. “When it comes to emergency preparedness, Mark has first-hand knowledge of the unique needs of Northern Virginia, as well as the regional resources available to address those needs.”

While with the Arlington County Fire Department, Penn’s assignments included:
• Fire and arson investigator
• Fire prevention inspector
• New construction building plan review
• Fire/EMS operations captain
• Deputy coordinator of Emergency Services
• Hazardous materials coordinator

Penn is a lifelong resident Alexandria. He graduated from T.C. Williams High School in 1971. He and his wife, Victoria L. Penn, a former Alexandria Police officer and school employee, are the parents of two children.