Ecuador RPCV Matthew E. (Matt) Mercer is Regional Coordinator for Kansas Homeland Security
Coordinators selected for state Homeland Security regions
Seven individuals have been selected as Regional Coordinators for the Homeland Security section of Kansas Emergency Management within The Adjutant General's Department..
These individuals will coordinate homeland security preparedness activities within their regions and assist local authorities to develop, plan, contract, oversee and evaluate regional exercises dealing with biological threats, food safety, foreign animal disease, cyber- and counter-terrorism, natural disasters, nuclear incidents and hazardous materials threats.
The Regional Coordinators will be supervised by Terri Ploger-McCool, who is the coordinator of the Homeland Security section.
"It was a difficult selection process," said Ploger-McCool. "We had applications from many, many qualified individuals, but I feel confident that we have selected an excellent team with abilities to support preparedness initiatives on a local and regional basis."
Matthew E. (Matt) Mercer is a native of Lyon County and a graduate of Northern Heights High School. Most recently, he worked three years with the St. Marys Police Department as a patrol officer. His law enforcement experience includes time as a tobacco inspector/enforcement agent with the Kansas Department of Revenue, as a reserve officer with the St. Marys Police Department, a reserve deputy with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office and as an auxiliary officer with the Riley County Police Department, where he was the auxiliary unit's executive officer. From 1996-1998, Mercer served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, where he gained fluency in Spanish and worked for the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Mercer earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture with a major in animal sciences and industry at Kansas State University, and received a master of arts degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
