About Us
Albuquerque's Office of Emergency Management reports directly to the City's Director of Public Safety and the Mayor, and is managed by the Director of Emergency Management Sal Baragiola (sbaragiola@cabq.gov), who oversees the Emergency Management program.
Sal Baragiola has more than 30 years of law enforcement and emergency management experience. He retired from the Albuquerque Police Department in 1999 as a Deputy Chief of Police. Baragiola served as Undersheriff with the Bernalillo County Sherriff's Department until January of 2010 when he took over the position of Emergency Manager. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and serves with the Department of Homeland Security in the United States Coast Guard as a special agent.
As the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Officer, Brigitte "BB" Bellsong (bbellsong@cabq.gov) oversees operational matters concerning the Office of Emergency Management and staffs and trains personel in the utilization and activation of the EOC. Brigitte ensures all communications capabilities are available and ready for use, and oversees all EOC training exercises. Brigitte is a Trustee on the New Mexico Crime Prevention Association Board. She is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and is past Chapter Chairwoman of Chapter 127 of the American Society for Industrial Security. Additionally, Brigitte is the Albuquerque Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) Reserve (Amateur Radio Operator, KE5MJQ) Program Manager and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager. Brigitte retired from thr US Air Force in 1999 in the rank of Major.
The Emergency Management Planning Officer, Ernest Maestas (EMMaestas@cabq.gov) is the primary steward of the City Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and is directly involved in all planning that affects the EOP. In addition to his planning duties, Ernest serves as the Program Manager of Albuquerque’s mass prophylaxis plan titled “The Cities Readiness Initiative,” and serves as the Division Subject Matter Expert in Civilian-Military joint operations. Prior to his current assignment, Ernest served as the Westside Area Command Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Albuquerque Police Department, overseeing crime prevention and crime analysis for the Westside Area Command; Ernest also constructed and managed the Westside Crime Alert System. Ernest is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Counter Terrorism Division, The Defense Threat Reduction University, and the University of New Mexico.
Liz Saavedra (lsaavedra@cabq.gov), Senior Administrative Assistant, coordinates OEM's budget and schedules, and acts as Treasurer of the New Mexico Emergency Management Association and as the Treasurer to the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Prior to being the OEM Senior Administrative Assistant, she worked in the Fire Department for several years, and kept the records for the Emergency Coordinator in the AFD before OEM was made stand-alone. She is a NM Certified Emergency Manager, and is trained by FEMA to evaluate exercises across the State of New Mexico.
From Across City Government
For operational planning, and when the EOC is activated, OEM includes staff from such City agencies as Police, Fire, Rescue, 311, and Environmental Health. This staff can be supplemented as needed with staff from Traffic, Water Utilities, Streets, Animal Services, and financial specialists who may also participate in emergency procurement, and track expenses.
And From Outside City Government
In addition, staff and volunteers of the American Red Cross stand ready to coordinate shelter needs, Amateur Radio personnel provide additional communication capabilities, and the New Mexico National Guard, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Sandia National Laboratories stand ready to play key roles.
