Eric Hodges, M.A., CEM, MEP
Director, Emergency Management, Illinois State University
Eric Hodges is the Director of Emergency Management at Illinois State University where he served since 2013. Eric spent his entire 30-year professional career at ISU where he also develops and teaches undergraduate and graduate Emergency Management courses. He also served with the McLean County Emergency Management Agency for 25 years.
During his time with McLean County EMA, Eric served as one of the founding members of the Illinois Search & Research Council (ISARC) and helped to develop a consistent approach to ground search and rescue throughout the state.
Eric also spent a brief time at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in 2020 serving as the Bureau Chief of Operations, overseeing planning, field operations, training & exercising, the State EOC, the agency’s Operations Center and mobile command vehicles.
Eric was also a member of the Illinois Incident Management Team where he responded to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Eric started his career in information technology and served in a number of IT roles at Illinois State University including systems administrator, developer, manager, director and finally as Chief Technology Officer for the University.
Eric’s passion areas are professionalizing the emergency management discipline, training
& exercises, teaching, social media in emergency management and the intersection of
cybersecurity and emergency management.
In addition to teaching for the University, Eric also instructs for the Illinois
Fire Service Institute and for FEMA.
Eric earned a master’s degree in Emergency & Disaster Management and holds certifications as a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and as a Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP).