Michael G. Masters

Michael G. Masters (November 14, 1978) is the Executive Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Cook County, Illinois.^[1] Appointed to this position in May 2011 by Cook County Board President ^[2] Toni Preckwinkle, Masters is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the homeland security and emergency management system across Cook County,^[3] involving both first responder and public sector agencies as well as partners in the non-profit and private sectors. Cook County is the second largest county in the Country – touching 5.4 million residents and encompassing 134 municipalities and 30 townships as well as numerous unincorporated areas stretching 940 square miles.

Prior to accepting this appointment, Masters served as the Chief of Staff for the Chicago Police Department,^[4] during which time he helped to direct the policy, operations and strategy of the second largest local law enforcement agency in the United States. Masters ^[5] oversaw enhancements to training and equipment, the implementation of performance management metrics and accountability systems. He also directed the development and implementation of organizational design changes to enhance operations, improve cost-savings and increase efficiencies, while assisting with targeted outreach strategies – all of which contributed to twenty-six months of continuous crime reduction and the lowest homicide rate in the City of Chicago in forty-five years.

Masters’ prior appointments and responsibilities include serving as an assistant to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley for public safety during which time he oversaw public safety policy and operations for the City of Chicago, and as a liaison to the Chicago Police and Fire departments and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

Masters has worked with the Washington D.C.-based Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the federal civil service, and with the United States Attorney’s office, also in Washington, D.C. He has devoted significant time to working on issues facing Native Americans in contemporary American society and has engaged in extensive development work on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. During the 2000 presidential election cycle, Masters traveled extensively as a member of United States Vice President Al Gore’s national advance team.

Education

A Truman and a Gates Cambridge Trust Scholar, Masters received his Bachelor of Arts in History with highest honors from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Philosophy degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. A Heyman Fellow and Dean’s Award recipient for community leadership, Masters received his Juris Doctoris from Harvard Law School where his research focused on legal issues related to terrorism and public corruption and where he served as managing editor for the Harvard International Law Journal.

Michael Masters is a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he holds the rank of Captain.

Notes

1. ^ New Cook County Security Chief Michael Masters Reviewing Department. (5/10/2011). Fox Chicago News. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/good_day/michael-masters-cook-county-homeland-security-emergency-chief-20110510
2. ^ James, Sebastian. (5/05/2011). President Preckwinkle Names New Director of County Department of Homeland Security and emergency Management. Blog - Cook County, IL. http://blog.cookcountygov.com/2011/05/05/president-preckwinkle-names-new-director-of-county-department-of-homeland-security-and-emergency-management
3. ^ Donovan, Lisa. (5/05/2011). Jody Weis’ Former Top Aide To Head County Homeland Security Department. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved: 8-21-11. http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/5203847-418/jody-weis-former-top-aide-to-head-county-homeland-security-department.html
4. ^ Jacobs, Cheryl. (5/06/2010). Meet Michael Masters, Chief of Staff to the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Oy! Chicago. Retrieved: 8-21-11. http://www.oychicago.com/article.aspx?id=6300&blogid=132
5. ^ Dubkin, Pauline. (3/05/2010). Top Cop’s Top Guy. The Chicago Jewish News Online. Retrieved: 8-21-11. http://www.chicagojewishnews.com/story.htm?sid=1&id=253651