Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery specialist is first to graduate from Texas Division of Emergency Management Academy
Luke Drosche receives EMT, advanced certification training
Luke Drosche became the first specialist from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit, DAR, to graduate from the Texas Division of Emergency Management Academy.
Drosche, a DAR specialist based in Victoria and Lexington native, completed advanced emergency response and EMT-related training designed to strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery efforts across Texas.
The academy prepares cadets across the emergency management discipline to coordinate disaster response, support affected communities and work alongside local, state and federal partners during crises ranging from hurricanes and wildfires to public health emergencies.
The academy provides next-generation emergency management workforce training and is the first of its kind in the nation. It prepares students for a career in emergency management with a focus on practical knowledge and skills. The eight-month academy, further prepares individuals for emergency management careers in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
“We are extremely proud of Luke’s dedication and commitment to completing and graduating from this prestigious academy program,” said Monty Dozier, Ph.D., DAR program director. “Above all, we’re proud of him representing AgriLife Extension and his continued service to Texas.”
Serving Texans through disaster support and education
For Drosche, the experience was both professionally rigorous and personally transformative.
“Overall, it was a fantastic experience,” he said. “I feel very well equipped to bring what I’ve learned and apply it to what we do at AgriLife Extension. this academy has further instilled my understanding of the importance of our state agency’s role in responding in times of disaster. The connections I’ve made in this cohort, becoming EMT certified. It’s been a fantastic experience.”
Drosche relocated to Fort Worth in September to participate in the eight-month training. He was asked by DAR leadership to consider applying for the academy last July.
Drosche said the academy training was fast paced. The curriculum was rigorous and wide ranging. He said he learned swift water awareness, emergency management, basics of emergency management training, as well as several aspects of Texas statute. Additional FEMA training was also part of the curriculum. His emergency management training consisted of emergency room work and ambulance response in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
“The academy challenged me in ways that will make me better prepared to support Texas communities,” he said. “At the end of the day, we are helping Texans, and that’s why I love this job.”
