Nancy J. Dragani
Executive Director, Ohio Emergency Management Agency
As director of the Ohio EMA, Nancy J. Dragani leads the state's coordinated
preparedness and response to both man-made and natural disasters, administers
the State Homeland Security Funding Program, and oversees disaster recovery and
mitigation efforts. Ms. Dragani was reappointed to her position by Governor Ted
Strickland in 2007. She has been the director of the Ohio Emergency Management
Agency since January 2005.
In the fall of 2008, Ms. Dragani accepted her elected seat as president of
the National Emergency Management Association. She is one of two state
emergency management directors on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s
National Advisory Council.
Prior to becoming executive director, Ms. Dragani served as the Director of
Operations at Ohio EMA where she was responsible for emergency preparedness
training, exercises, planning, homeland security and preparedness grants and
response operations in the State Emergency Operations Center during disasters.
During her career, Ms. Dragani has held a variety of positions with local, state
and the federal government including the director of administration and public
information chief for the Ohio EMA, editor of the Ohio National Guard's
quarterly magazine, and radio and television broadcaster with the United States
Army. Ms. Dragani retired from the Ohio National Guard with 22 years of
combined U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Air National Guard service.
Ms. Dragani graduated summa cum laude from Ohio Dominican College, with a Bachelor
of Arts, emphasis in communications.
Ms. Dragani resides with her husband and two children in Columbus, Ohio.
