Illinois Emergency Planning
Ted Berger is the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). Ted joined IEMA-OHS in May of 2025 following a distinguished career in public policy and public safety leadership across multiple levels of government. Most recently, he served as Executive Director for the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS), overseeing emergency management and homeland security programs within the nation’s second-largest county.
Previously, Ted held senior roles in Cook County Government, including with the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Board President, and as Chief Deputy Director for EMRS. His earlier public service includes leadership positions with the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, as well as several state agencies, among them the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Illinois Tollway, and the Illinois Department of Transportation. He began his public service career as a James H. Dunn Memorial Fellow in the Office of the Governor.
Beyond his professional roles, Ted served in the volunteer fire service as Deputy Chief of Training, EMS, and Safety for the North Park Fire Protection District in Machesney Park, and as a volunteer Associate Staff Member for the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance. He holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bradley University
Ted previously presented to us when he was working for the City of Chicago. This time his presentation will center around the whole state of Illinois and what the state is doing to prepare for various emergencies which may arise in the future. This will be an interesting program and one you will want to invite a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom.
Suzanne Berger, who just happens to be Ted's mother, will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host.