NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans appoints Darrick Hesson as Director of the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) serves as New Orleans’ coordinating agency for public safety and emergency management. As director, Hesson will oversee the administration of all crises and consequence response protocols safeguarding New Orleans.
Hesson is a native New Orleanian with more than 24 years of progressive experience in emergency management and homeland security. His career spans local, parish, state, and private sectors, giving Hesson a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in safeguarding the City of New Orleans.
“Darrick Hesson’s passion for New Orleans, experience, and commitment to advancing a progressive, resilient approach to emergency management are key to serving the people of New Orleans well,” said Mayor Moreno. “His experiences have strengthened his ability to integrate public and private resources, innovate under pressure, and lead complex, multi-agency responses.”
“Darrick Hesson has a proven track record of leading communities in times of crisis,” Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Michael Harrison said. “His leadership and experience are a great fit for New Orleans.”
“What sets me apart is my deep understanding of how decisions made in an Emergency Operations Center impact first responders and community outcomes,” Hesson said. “I bring proven expertise in developing all-hazard emergency operations plans, activating and managing EOCs, and fostering inter-agency collaboration—skills that align directly with NOHSEP’s mission to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure.”
Darrick Hesson began his career as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. He received firsthand experience in frontline disaster response during Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Hesson has served as Deputy Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for Livingston Parish, Planning Branch Manager for the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Emergency Plans Section Coordinator for the Texas Division of Emergency Management. In these roles, Hesson led critical planning initiatives, managed continuity of operations programs, and staffed state emergency operations centers during federally declared disasters, including Hurricane Harvey, where he coordinated interstate sheltering for over 10,000 evacuees.
Hesson is passionate about serving the people of New Orleans and committed to advancing a progressive, resilient approach to emergency management.