ORLANDO, FL—The FBI Tampa Field Office is proud to announce Eric Alberts, a leader in emergency preparedness for the city of Orlando, as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for 2020. Mr. Alberts is the Corporate Director for Emergency Preparedness at Orlando Health. He demonstrates a sincere commitment to protecting his community by strengthening partnerships between the medical and law enforcement communities.

In April of 2016, Mr. Alberts invited the FBI Tampa Field Office to participate in an annual full-scale community exercise designed to test Emergency Management Services' (EMS) ability to respond to mass casualty incidents. The FBI Orlando Resident Agency worked with several law enforcement and emergency management agencies in the planning and execution of this exercise. Two months later, the FBI responded to the Pulse Nightclub terror attack. The policies, procedures, and protocols instituted because of that training, helped save lives. Since then, Mr. Alberts has joined Assistant FBI Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper with crisis response training. Their coordinated message has facilitated partnerships between law enforcement and hospitals across the nation.

“Mr. Alberts has been a friend of the FBI for many years. He’s a leader who recognizes the importance of a well-planned, synchronized response to a crisis event. His dedication to emergency preparedness is helping make the Orlando community a safer place.” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to the prevention of crime and violence in the community. Every year, FBI field offices around the country select a community partner making a difference and exemplifying leadership to receive the award. For more information about this prestigious award, please go to: www.fbi.gov/about/community-outreach/dcla