Thomas Munoz is an Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Director with 26 years of first responder and emergency management experience. As the Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Director for the City of Texas City, he is responsible for the safety of all its citizens along with managing the crisis communication plan with local industry and major stakeholders. Texas City is home base for 19 low-to-high risk chemical plants. The Port of Texas City is the 7th busiest port in the country. Tom also responded to the Santa Fe ISD shootings where he served as the Liaison and Logistics Officer during this event. He has testified in front of the Senate Select Committee and the House of Representatives on Violence in Schools and School Security.
Prior to his arrival to Texas City, Tom was a 24 year member of the Houston Fire Department in which he achieved the rank of Assistant Chief of Homeland Security and Planning. Part of his duties included planning for major city events, which included the NCAA Finals, Presidential and Dignitary visits, the Houston Marathon and the Olympics Marathon Trials. He was also the Human Relations Chairperson for the International Associations of Fire Chiefs
Tom served in the United States Coast Guard Reserves and retired as Commander. During his time in the United States Coast Guard, he served as the USCG Deputy Incident Commander for Hurricane Katrina-New Orleans Vessel Removal Project, the Texas City Y Spill as a Liaison Officer and most recently served as the Hurricane Maria Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer in San Juan, PR. Tom also served on the Commandants Diversity Advisory Council.
Tom is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown where he teaches Safety, Emergency Management and Crisis Communication.
Tom holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and is currently working on his second Masters in Homeland Security from American Military University. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Houston. Tom completed the Executive Leadership and Management Certification Program from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business. He is also a graduate from the Naval Postgraduate Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program as well as the National Defense University in Washington, DC.