The former emergency management director for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and controversial NEOM project has been selected as the next head of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management.

What You Need To Know

  • Randal Collins will replace Hiro Toiya, who stepped down last September to take a new position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Collins, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Indianapolis, and a Master of Leadership and doctorate in organizational change from the University of Southern California
  • Most recently, Collins contributed his expertise to the NEOM project, a sprawling, $8.8 trillion development in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province that is planned to include a carbon-neutral linear city that can support 9 million people
  • Collins will start his new position on May 1

 

Randal Collins will replace Hiro Toiya, who stepped down last September to take a new position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Acting director Jennifer Walter will return to her previous position as deputy director.

“I am deeply grateful to Mayor Blangiardi for this opportunity to serve the City and County of Honolulu in such a critical role,” Collins said in a statement released on Wednesday. “Emergency management is about staying ahead of the next challenge — bringing together the best ideas, the best people, and the best strategies to protect the lives, livelihoods, and the quality of life of the people of Honolulu. I look forward to building strong partnerships and modernizing how we prepare for, respond to, and cope with emergencies.”

Collins, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Indianapolis, and a Master of Leadership and doctorate in organizational change from the University of Southern California.

His extensive background in emergency management includes work on some 30 federally declared disaster responses. Collins has previously served as emergency management coordinator for the City of El Segundo, national director of American humane rescue and deputy director of operations and preparedness for Indianapolis-Marion County Emergency Management.

Collins is also the president and CEO of the Incident Management Teams Association, which works with FEMA and the National Emergency Management Association to develop a national emergency management program, and an associate adjunct professor of emergency management at the USC.

Most recently, Collins contributed his expertise to the NEOM project, a sprawling, $8.8 trillion development in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province that is planned to include a carbon-neutral linear city that can support 9 million people. Though beset by cost overruns, missed deadlines and investigations into mismanagement, the project continues to move forward with a projected completion date of 2045. Collins led strategic crisis management initiatives and established NOEM’s first weather service.

“We are thrilled to welcome Randy Collins to our team,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “His extensive background in emergency management, leadership development, and crisis response will be invaluable as we continue to enhance Oahu’s preparedness and resilience. I am also grateful to Jennifer Walter for her leadership as Acting Director and am pleased that she will continue to serve in a key role.”

Collins will start his new position on May 1.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.