New Montco public safety director named
Michael Vest succeeds former director Thomas M. Sullivan
EAGLEVILLE >> Montgomery County Department of Public Safety Interim Director Michael O. Vest was formally appointed to director, a department spokesperson said Wednesday.
The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners selected Vest for the leadership position, which became effective June 14.
Vest has been serving as interim director since Jan. 6, following the retirement of former Director Thomas M. Sullivan.
“For the past 12 years, Mike has served Montgomery County with accountability and integrity,” said commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh in a statement. “As he has done for the past several months, I am confident that through his leadership, he will continue to be a valuable asset to the county in providing the highest level of public safety for our residents and visitors.”
“We congratulate and officially welcome Mike into this new role,” said commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. in a statement. “I can’t think of anyone else who is better suited to continue to lead our public safety efforts at this critical time.”
Vest started with the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety in 2009 after a 20-year military career in the United States Army in the fields of intelligence and aviation.
Working in the fields of intelligence and aviation, he served two combat tours of duty. He was stationed in Iraq and other locations worldwide as an interpreter, strategic debriefer, liaison officer, flight operations officer, battle captain, and instructor pilot.
Vest has held the position of deputy director of public safety since 2012. He most recently headed the emergency communications division, overseeing a team of 150 911 telecommunicators and support staff that answered and processed 840,990 emergency calls in 2020.
Vest has a master’s degree in emergency services management as well as a bachelor’s degree in aviation studies with a focus in the Korean language. He’s also bilingual in English and Korean.
“I can’t think of anyone else who is better suited to continue to lead our public safety efforts at this critical time.” — Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr.