County picks emergency management director

Chris Grimes, a 12-year veteran of emergency operations in Forsyth County, has been named the county’s director of emergency management.

Grimes had been serving as interim director since the Oct. 16 retirement of Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management Danny Bowman, and he was appointed director by County Manager Eric Johnson.

Grimes started with Forsyth in 2006 as an emergency management clerk; served as school safety manager with the Forsyth County Board of Eduction in 2007; and was named deputy director of emergency management for the county in 2013.

As deputy director, Grimes oversaw all daily operations and responses of the Emergency Management Agency. He also served as director of the Emergency Operations Center during activations, managed the EMA budget and was liaison with local, state and federal partners. He is a certified Georgia Emergency Manager.

Grimes is a graduate of South Forsyth High School and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Georgia and a master’s of public safety administration from Columbus State University.