A. J. Schall

Background

About A. J. Schall

A.J. Schall Jr. became the Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) in 2015. Schall brings a background in public safety to the agency, complementing it with emergency management and corporate experience. Director Schall graduated from Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, Illinois, and then attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He was Student Government President and in 1998 received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Director Schall got his start in emergency management in 1994 as a volunteer with the Kane County (Illinois) Office of Emergency Management. While studying at St. Ambrose, Director Schall was employed by the Department of Public Safety. Upon graduation, Director Schall began his professional career with Bank of America, where he completed a rigorous management development program. He has held positions in team management, facilities management, event coordination, and group relationship management. He has worked with large corporate budgets, negotiated key contracts, and has nearly two decades of experience in upper level management. Director Schall has also been actively engaged in the front lines of emergency response, serving as the Chief of the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company (Newark, DE), and currently is Deputy Chief. He is certified as an EMT-B, NFPA Firefighter I/II, NFPA Fire Instructor I/II, Swift Water Tech, Blue Card Command, NFPA Fire Officer I/II along with several ICS and Incident Management Courses. DEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery and mitigation services in order to save lives, protect Delaware's economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. Since becoming Director, DEMA has facilitated multiple State of Emergencies, FEMA Graded Exercises, launched an UAV program and is in process of an Emergency Operations Plan revamp. Notable accomplishments of 2019 are revitalization of the Mitigation Program and after eighteen months the Agency’s first Accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). DEMA is the State Agent for the Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Grant Programs and works with various disciplines across the region. Over the years Director Schall continues his professional development, completing the US Army War College Commandant’s National Security Program in 2016, and most recently the Naval Post Graduate School Executive Leaders Program. In the winter of 2020, Schall will begin as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware.