TDEM Celebrates Graduation of the Fifth Texas Emergency Management Academy Cadet Class

By Editor | May 26, 2026 |

| May 26, 2026 |

First cohort to graduate from The Academy’s Fort Worth-based offering

FORT WORTH, Texas – The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today celebrated the graduation of the fifth cadet class of the Texas Emergency Management Academy during a ceremony at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd delivered the keynote address and congratulated the 23 cadets for successfully completing the emergency management workforce development program. This fifth cadet class is the first to participate in The Academy’s Fort Worth-based offering.

“The need for skilled and adaptable emergency management professionals has never been more important and these graduates leave this program prepared to meet those challenges and to lead with confidence and purpose,” said Chief Kidd. “Completing the Texas Emergency Management Academy is a significant achievement that reflects months of hard work and perseverance. These cadets are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful impact when Texans need it most.”

The Texas Emergency Management Academy, a first of its kind program in the nation operated by TDEM, comprehensively trains the next generation of emergency management professionals in all phases of emergency management, including preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation.

Graduates of the eight month Texas Emergency Management Academy received instruction from subject matter experts in areas such as emergency management planning, disaster finance, logistics, wildland firefighting, ambulance staging, Emergency Operations Center response management, hazard mitigation, risk assessment, disaster recovery, resource management and technology, volunteer management, public information, private sector partnerships, and other key areas of emergency management.

Academy graduates earned multiple nationally recognized emergency management certifications, including FEMA’s Professional Development Series, the Level I Professional Continuity Practitioner program, and the National Emergency Management Basic Academy. Graduates also completed training as basic emergency medical technicians and achieved National Registry certification.

Nearly 100 subject matter experts provided in depth, hands on, and classroom training throughout the program, equipping cadets with advanced emergency management expertise.

Additional information about The Academy is available at tdem.texas.gov/academy. A link to the streamed event can be found here.

fwgraduation1