AJ Gary will retire as director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management and state homeland security advisor effective Nov. 1, concluding more than a decade of service in state emergency management.
Gary was first appointed by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson in June 2016 and reappointed in January of 2023 by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“AJ has been instrumental in helping us deliver assistance to Arkansans when they need it most and stood with me on some of our toughest days,” Sanders said in a statement. “I’m grateful to AJ for his career in public service and wish him the best as he enters this well-earned next chapter.”
Under his leadership, ADEM responded to and supported recovery efforts for 49 state‑ and federally declared disasters, strengthening coordination and service to communities across Arkansas.
“Serving the state of Arkansas as the director of emergency management and homeland security advisor has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Gary said. “I am incredibly proud of the ADEM team. Their dedication, professionalism, and compassion set a standard that is recognized across the nation. As I prepare to retire, I do so with full confidence that the ADEM team will continue to serve Arkansans with the same commitment and excellence they demonstrate every day.”
As ADEM director, Gary was appointed to serve as president of the National Emergency Management Association in October 2025, representing emergency management directors from states and territories across the nation, according to a press release.
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