(Brooksville) – Hernando County Government is pleased to announce David M. DeCarlo as the Hernando County Director of Emergency Management. DeCarlo joined Hernando County on February 6, 2023, on an interim basis and will become the permanent Director of Emergency Management effective June 12, 2023. DeCarlo began his public service career in 1987 with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. There, DeCarlo rose through the ranks with experience as a communications officer, vice and narcotics detective, Sergeant of Special Investigations, Lieutenant of Major Crimes, SWAT Team Commander, and Captain of Criminal Investigations Division. The last five years of his career, DeCarlo served as Captain and Director of Emergency Management for Citrus County, FL. There, he oversaw EOC Emergency Operations for numerous hurricanes and tropical storms for full and partial activations during this time frame.
Duties included conducting preliminary damage assessments, preparing public disaster recovery centers, assisting with FEMA public assistance, FEMA Individual Assistance, FEMA Small Business Administration Loans and State Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and countless hurricane preparedness public presentations. Also, he was heavily involved in assisting the Florida Department of Health with COVID-19 response. Director DeCarlo retired from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office after 33 plus years of service.
In 1999, DeCarlo attended the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute 102nd Administrative Officers Course. Director DeCarlo holds a BA in criminal justice and a master’s degree in business administration, both from St. Leo University. He responded with a law enforcement mutual aid contingent for Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and resided in Crystal River for the “No Name” storm of 1993. He has successfully completed both of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) professional development and advance professional development series.
Director DeCarlo is happily married to his wife Sherri for the past 27 years. He has two sons and two granddaughters. His oldest son is a US Coast Guard veteran and currently serves as a Florida law enforcement officer. His youngest son currently serves with the United States Marine Corp.
For questions or more information, please contact Hernando County Emergency Management at (352) 754-4083 or visit www.HernandoCounty.us/EM.