Florida EDS chief named to DHS faith initiatives

Kevin Smith, most recently The Salvation Army's state director for emergency disaster services in the Florida Division, has been named director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Smith is a certified emergency manager who has worked with faith and community-based organizations for more than 20 years, according to a DHS announcement.

Smith was with The Salvation Army following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks; was national disaster specialist with Feeding America, coordinating the immediate response to 2005's Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi, Mississippi; and returned to The Salvation Army in 2008 and led the responses to Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew in 2016 and Irma and Maria in 2017.

He received the distinguished service award at the 2005 National Hurricane Conference and at the 2018 Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference.