Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, who serves as the City of Columbus’ Public Safety Director, announced today that the region’s Homeland Security function will be restructured into a Homeland Security Council in order to bring it in line with the Federal and State Homeland Security structures.  At both the Federal and State levels, Homeland Security is coupled with the Emergency Management Agency.  Now, the Mayor has formalized a Homeland Security Council consisting of Columbus’ Emergency Management Director, Hazardous Devices Response Team, Fire/EMS, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Marshal’s Office and City Manager’s Office.   Mayor Tomlinson has named Assistant Fire/EMS Chief Robert Futrell to lead the new Council as Homeland Security Director.  Chief Futrell will take on the new role as Homeland Security Director in addition to his duties as Assistant Chief. 

“There really is a marriage between Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  The truth is Emergency Management is invoked in every serious community threat, from a natural disaster, to an unintentional water contamination, to an epidemic to a hazardous device or bomb scenario.  We have to be ready for all threats to our community, not just the ones that might first come to mind when we think of ‘Homeland Security,’” said Mayor Tomlinson.  “Our successful response to the recent winter storm that left Atlanta and Birmingham crippled was a result of the coordination of this professional team.  We saw what the potential was for success and we wanted to capitalize on it”. 

The Homeland Security Council will oversee a Critical Infrastructure Committee, which will consult with public and private sector infrastructure stakeholders, such as the Columbus Water Works, Georgia Power, Ft. Benning, TSYS, Aflac, local hospitals, Muscogee County School District and other major employers.   The Council will convene a Grant Committee to maximize grant monies to this region and to assure the proper distribution and efficient maintenance cost of these grant assets.  The Council will also convene an Intelligence Committee for the sharing of sensitive information related to the safety of the Columbus, Georgia, and surrounding regional, community.  

As with the Federal and State governments, Mayor Tomlinson, as the city’s Chief Executive Officer and Public Safety Director, will oversee the Homeland Security Council, which will be led by Assistant Fire/EMS Chief Robert Futrell as the new Homeland Security Director.   Previous Homeland Security Director, Brad Hicks, will remain on the Council as head of the area’s Hazardous Devices Response Team.   “We believe we will achieve an even higher level of efficiency and community protection through this new structure.  Bringing Chief Futrell on board as the new Homeland Security Director returns Homeland Security to its roots in the Emergency Management Agency, which is housed in the Fire/EMS Department,” said Mayor Tomlinson.

“I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Columbus in this position,” said Chief Futtrell.  “This is not a job in which any one person could be effective in and by himself, but will require the participation of everyone from public safety, area businesses, and the community at large.  The goals of the newly structured organization will be to insure that the City is able to protect our citizens, respond to natural or manmade disasters, and effectively recover from those events.” 

Assistant Chief Futrell is a 33 year veterans of the Fire/EMS Department.  Among his many professional accomplishments, he is certified in Homeland Security Level 5, certified Fire Fighter, Paramedic, Post Certified Peace Officer, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rescue Technician and has a national Security Secret Clearance through the U.S. Defense Department.  

Columbus, Georgia’s Homeland Security effort evolved from the local Emergency Management Agency under Mayor Bob Poydasheff in 2003.  The City of Columbus has numerous Mutual Aid Agreements with surrounding counties to provide assistance in the wake of natural or man-made disaster or emergency.

Robert Futrell

Assistant Chief

Columbus Fire & Emergency Medical Services

Assistant Chief Futrell began his career in 1981 after serving 4 years as a U.S. Army Infantry Sergeant. He started his career as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Columbus EMS Department. He obtained certifications as a Cardiac Technician then Paramedic. In 1986 he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief of EMS. When the Fire and EMS Departments were merged in 2001 he was placed over the Special Operations Division as a Deputy Chief. In 2004 the Operations and Special Operations Divisions were merged and he was made the Deputy Chief over the combined divisions. In November 2010 he was promoted to Assistant Chief.  He serves as the Task Force Leader for the Georgia Search and Rescue Team, Task Force 4A. He also serves as the State Public Safety Diving Instructor.  He holds a Masters Degree from Troy University and, in addition to certifications as Paramedic and Firefighter; he is also a Georgia Certified Peace Officer and serves as a Tactical Medic for the Police, Sheriff and ATF tactical teams. He is also certified in Homeland Security Level 5, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Rescue Technician and has a National Security Secret Clearance through the Department of Defense.