CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Dr. Matthew Blackwood has been appointed to serve as Director of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division.
Blackwood has been serving as the division’s acting director since December 2025.
“Dr. Matthew Blackwood brings decades of hands-on emergency management experience, operational leadership, and a deep understanding of how to protect West Virginians when it matters most,” Governor Patrick Morrisey said in a release. “He has been on the front lines of some of our state’s most challenging moments, and I am confident he will continue strengthening coordination with local, state, and federal partners to ensure West Virginia is prepared to respond quickly and effectively.”
According to the release, Blackwood has more than two decades of experience in emergency management, homeland security, and disaster response.
He has also played a huge role in coordinating statewide preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
As director, he will oversee statewide emergency preparedness planning, disaster response coordination, and recovery operations.
Blackwood’s appointment is effective immediately.