Zach Shean, Emergency Management Coordinator

910-893-7580
zshean@harnett.org

 

Zach Shean has been with Harnett County Emergency Services since 2009 where he started with the EMS Division. In 2014, he advanced to serve as the Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator for Harnett County, and in 2019 he was promoted to Emergency Management Coordinator, where he serves today. He began his public service career as a volunteer firefighter with Angier Fire & Rescue and went on to serve as a volunteer Rescue / EMS Captain with Dunn Emergency Services.  Prior to his employment with Harnett County Emergency Services, he worked as the shift supervisor for Erwin Fire & Rescue serving as a Firefighter and EMT.  Shean has worked in various parts of emergency management including field operations, on scene incident management and managing the emergency operations center in various floods, natural disasters and training events. He possesses an associate's Degree in Emergency Management from FTCC and working towards a bachelor's in Emergency Disaster Preparedness from Western Carolina University. In 2023, Shean was awarded the prestigious Vance E. Kee Award from the North Carolina Emergency Management Association.  That award is given to a local government emergency management professional who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their emergency management program, through promoting emergency management among local and state agencies and elected officials. He is married and has two children. Shean possesses the following certifications:

NCEMA Executive Emergency Manager Certification NC Advanced EMT NIMS & Fire I & II Instructor Technical Rescue - Confined Space
NCEMA Associate Emergency Manager Certification Firefighter I & II Chief 101 Technical Rescue - Ropes
FEMA / NIMS Incident Commander Credential Hazardous Material Level I Ops Emergency Vehicle Driver Technical Rescue - Vehicle Extrication
FEMA / NIMS Operations Section Chief Credential Fire Investigation Technician FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot Technical Rescue - Water Rescue
FEMA / NIMS Division Group Supervisor Credential      
FEMA / NIMS Situation Unit Leader Credential      

  

Ryan Dawson, Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator

910-893-7580
rdawson@harnett.org
 

Ryan Dawson has been the Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator since 2023.  Dawson began his career in public service as a volunteer junior firefighter at age 14 with Sandy Bottom Fire & Rescue and later at North Lenoir Fire & Rescue. As a volunteer firefighter, he held ranks from firefighter all the way to Deputy Fire Chief. Prior to joining Harnett County Emergency Services, he worked 20 years at the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office in Kinston, NC where his last assignment was 7 years as the Chief Deputy Sheriff and second in command over approximately 130 employees. He received numerous commendations including the Medal of Valor, the Law Enforcement Purple Heart and NC Officer of the Year along with numerous other prestigious recognitions.  During his paid and volunteer career in law enforcement and the fire service, he cross trained in areas of emergency management such as active shooter response, missing persons incidents, land search and rescue and incident management, which led him to Harnett County as the Asst. EM Coordinator. His training and experience includes work in field operations, on scene incident management and in the Emergency Operations Center. Dawson possesses a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology from Appalachian State University and is a graduate of NC State University Law Enforcement Executive Program. He is married and has two children. Dawson possesses the following certifications:

NCEMA Executive Emergency Manager Certification NC Firefighter I & II Fire Investigation Technician NC Basic Law Enforcement Certification
NCEMA Associate Emergency Manager Certification Hazardous Material Level I Ops NC EMT Basic NC Intermediate Law Enforcement Certification
FEMA / NIMS Incident Commander Credential Rapid Interview Crew  Technical Rescuer - Ropes NC Advanced Law Enforcement Certification
FEMA / NIMS Safety Officer Credential (In Training) NC Fire Officer 1   Internal Affairs Supervisor Certification
FEMA / NIMS Liaison Officer Credential Chief 101   NC Criminal Justice General Instructor
FEMA / NIMS Public Information Officer Credential Emergency Vehicle Driver   FEMA / NIMS Instructor
FEMA / NIMS Operations Section Chief Credential Driver / Operator Pumps FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot  
FEMA / NIMS Division Group Supervisor Credential Driver / Operator Aerials NC State University Law Enforcement Executive Program Graduate