Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has named Kelly Nilsson director of the Emergency Programs Division at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Nilsson replaces John Howard, who retired Dec. 31.
“Kelly has established herself as a leader through her work as Disaster Recovery Coordinator with the Emergency Programs Division,” said Troxler. “I am excited that she has accepted the director position and I know her expertise will be invaluable to the division and the department.”
Prior to moving to North Carolina, Nilsson served as the Emergency Management Director for Georgia Southern University and the Agency Emergency Management Coordinator for the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. She also served 10 years in the New York Army National Guard.
Nilsson received her undergraduate degree from Excelsior University and certificate from University of Richmond with a concentration in emergency services management and homeland security. She is currently attending graduate school at N.C. State University, working toward a master’s degree in climate change. She lives with her husband, Mike, in Clayton.
The Emergency Programs Division coordinates the department’s response and recovery efforts in events such as hurricanes, animal disease outbreaks and other emergencies or public health concerns. The division also inspects agricultural sanctioned fairs for compliance to Aedin’s Law. This law requires fairs meet certain requirements at animal contact exhibits in an effort to protect public health.
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