FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 1, 2003
Announces Schrader and Lockwood as Director and Deputy Director
Governor Ehrlich today signed Executive Order 01.01.2003.18, establishing the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. This Office will serve as the direct liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as work in coordination with all state departments, agencies and local jurisdictions responsible for homeland security and emergency preparedness. The Governor also announced that he has chosen Dennis R. Schrader and Thomas J. Lockwood as the Director and Deputy Director of the Office.
“In the wake of the September 11th attacks on our nation, the preparedness efforts and protection of our state are paramount to the safety of Maryland and its citizens,” said Governor Ehrlich.
The Office of Homeland Security will be responsible for the direction and coordination of efforts at all levels of state government including providing services to citizens, finding solutions to ensure public safety, and working to strengthen the linkage between the homeland security activities of federal, state, regional, subdivision, metropolitan and local governments. The Governor and Office leadership will appoint the staff, with logistical and infrastructure support from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The Director will serve and report directly to the Governor.
Dennis R. Schrader, 50, has been appointed by Governor Ehrlich to be the Director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. Schrader, a University of Maryland Medical Center Vice President, has a collective 27 years of executive leadership in roles in manufacturing, Naval facilities management and construction and healthcare administration. Schrader has been with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) since 1987, where he has served as the Director of Operations (1987-1996), Vice President of Facilities Management and Development (1996-1999), and the Vice President of Project Planning and Development (1999-Present). For the past five years, his duties have included a focus on Emergency Readiness for Mass Casualty Incidents.
During his 16 years at UMMS, Schrader honed his skills in capital asset management, organization development, operations improvement, technology transformation, and applied research and engineering. The result was the transformation of UMMS from a poorly capitalized government operated facility to a nationally recognized private institution. Schrader has developed over 1.2 million square feet at a value of over $500 million.
“My Administration sought Dennis Schrader for his abilities to emerge as a leader during times of hardship,” said Governor Ehrlich. “His unique blend of professional, military and political experience will serve Maryland and its citizens with integrity in times of war and peace.”
Schrader has 23 years of military service as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer. He has achieved the rank of Captain and has earned four Navy commendation medals and three Navy achievement medals during his years in the military, seven of which were spent on active duty. Schrader holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering. Schrader is a resident of Columbia, Maryland, where he resides with his wife, Sandy, a Senator in the Maryland General Assembly and their daughter, Whitney.
Thomas J. Lockwood, 43, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. Lockwood has acted as Maryland’s Homeland Security Advisor since Governor Ehrlich’s inauguration. Previously, Lockwood served as a team leader during the Ehrlich-Steele transition, a Brookings Institute Legislative Fellow to Congressman Ehrlich and has held various management positions in the Navy’s Virginia Nuclear Submarine Program.
Currently, Lockwood serves on several executives boards related to his appointment including: U.S. Attorney Maryland District’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force; Department of Homeland Security’s National Capital Region Senior Policy Group; Maryland Maritime Security Group; Maryland Terrorism Forum; Washington Council of Government’s National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council, and National Emergency Management Association’s Homeland Security Committee.
“Tom Lockwood has an extensive familiarity with the federal government’s systematic approach to the homeland security and emergency preparedness of our nation, said Governor Ehrlich. “As the Deputy Director of this Office, Tom will bring that same level of expertise and efficiency to Maryland.”
Lockwood has a Bachelor’s in Marine Engineering, a Master’s degree in Technology Management and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, the National Defense University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Business where he was Chairman of his class. Lockwood holds multiple professional and operational certifications. Lockwood lives in Arnold, Maryland with his wife and three children.