Steven E. Zimmerman
Chief of Staff
Steven Zimmerman has worked for the State of Iowa for more than 37 years. He began his public service career in 1974 at the Iowa Department of Public Safety as a communication specialist and flight instructor.
In 1987, Mr. Zimmerman came to the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to work as the exercise training officer, where he developed the first state exercise and training program in emergency management for Iowa. In this position, he also authored the after action report following the crash of United 232 in Sioux City in July 1989.
In 1994, Mr. Zimmerman became a radiological emergency preparedness planner for the Division, and from 1995 and 1999, he served as the hazardous materials grant program manager and trainer as well as hazard mitigation officer and team leader. In September 1999 Mr. Zimmerman was promoted to preparedness bureau chief, where he served until May 2009. At that time, he became the Division's chief of staff.
During his time at the Division, Mr. Zimmerman has served as the state coordinating officer for nine Presidential disasters. He has also overseen the development of Iowa's Enhanced State Mitigation Plan, one of only eight in the nation.
Mr. Zimmerman has a bachelor of science degree in business management from Upper Iowa University. He also served during Vietnam and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1974. Mr. Zimmerman has received several awards during his tenure at HSEMD, including the Governor's Star Award in 1990, a Humanitarian Service Medal following the floods of 1993 and a Commander's Award for Civilian Service after the disasters of 2008.
