STAFF | Spartanburg OES

THE STAFF

Doug Bryson, CEM

Director, Emergency Services

Appointed Emergency Management Coordinator on July 9, 2005, Mr. Bryson brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences in law enforcement and emergency services. Prior to his role as Emergency Management Coordinator, Mr. Bryson served with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for fourteen (14) years. In 2003, he was named the Supervisor-of-the-Year for the Sheriff's Office.

While at the Sheriff's Office, Mr. Bryson was instrumental in the development and implementation of the county-wide School Resource Officer program at area school districts. Additionally, while supervising the activities of the crime prevention program, he was able to forge numerous relationships within private industry. Since arriving with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has continued to foster relationships with such entities as: SCEMD, DHEC, Spartanburg Regional, National Weather Service, and numerous other local, state, federal and private agencies.

While with Emergency Management, Mr. Bryson has received his BS degree in Emergency Disaster Management from Western Carolina University, his Certified Emergency Manager from the South Carolina Emergency Management Association (SCEMA), and and his CEM from the International Association of Emergency Managers. In addition, Mr. Bryson is a member of the Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2012, on the security committee for the South Carolina Association of Counties, and has served numerous roles with the International Association of Emergency Managers. Starting in 2022 Mr. Bryson was promoted to the new position of Emergency Services Director where he oversees Emergency Management, the Emergency Services Academy, and the Fire Coordinator Sections. In his spare time, Mr. Bryson enjoys spending time with his family, landscaping and travel.

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Robbie Swofford

Emergency Management Coordinator

A native of Spartanburg County, Robbie Swofford is a graduate of Chapman High School, Wofford College (BA History and Government - Cum Laude), and Clemson University (MPA). He has been employed with the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management for 21 years.

During his 21-year tenure, he has spent almost 19 of these years coordinating the CERT program. From a Basic CERT program has spawned an Advanced CERT initiative comprised of the following 5 divisions: Spartanburg County Search and Rescue, Spartanburg County Support Services, Spartanburg County Sheltering, Spartanburg County DART, and Spartanburg County Emergency Communications. In addition to coordinating these initiatives, Swofford is hands on in all other departmental functions/activities while also being a loving husband and father of 4 beautiful girls.

Family, SAR, CERT, VOAD, and just Community are of some of Swofford's passions. He is also a closet IMT geek, having taken All Hazards IMT training and Managing Search operations on numerous occasions. In addition, Mr. Swofford is a Part 107 Drone Pilot, has his SC CEM, and is an AMPWDA Nationally Certified K9 Handler with K9 Brodie in the discipline of Live FInd Air Scent. During his tenure with EM, Swofford has been through 4 Presidentially declared disasters, responded to 100+ searches, and helped coordinate 20+ shelter operations.

Beginning in 2022, Mr Swofford became the EM Coordinator and the SR EM Specialist joined the team. With Mike, Lucie and all of our dedicated volunteers, the EM Division strives to be the most active in the State.

Mike Brown

Senior EM Specialist

Mike Brown joined the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management as the Senior Emergency Management Specialist in April of 2022. His duties include All Hazards Planning, Grants Management, Training, and Exercise Coordination.

Prior to joining the Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management, Mike spent over a decade in private industry, before beginning his emergency management career with Greenville County Emergency Management. Afterwards, Mike worked at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and responded to Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. For his work during the latter, he was awarded the South Carolina State Achievement Ribbon from the South Carolina Military Department. Mike earned an Associates of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) in Political Science with a minor in Homeland Security followed by a Master of Arts in Security Studies where his thesis research focused on future socio-political instability in the United States.