Congratulates Assistant Agency Director on Presidential Appointment to USDA
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today the promotion of Wes Rapaport to Chief of Media and Communications. This promotion comes as Assistant Agency Director Seth W. Christensen has been selected as the Communications Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Presidential Appointment working with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Rapaport's promotion comes after serving as Section Chief of Media and Communications. Since joining TDEM as a Media and Communications Officer in 2021, Rapaport has supported numerous local and state-level disasters, as well as nearly 20 presidentially-declared disasters and Fire Management Assistance Grants.
In his role, Rapaport works closely with Chief Kidd and state executive leadership to coordinate life-safety messaging for Texans before, during, and after disasters. Additionally, he oversees coordination of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center’s joint information center and serves as primary point of contact for media.
“We have an immense responsibility to keep Texans informed through all phases of disasters, and Wes will help lead our team of communications professionals as we maintain our operational excellence and serve all Texas communities,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd.
Rapaport is an award-winning journalist, having previously served as a correspondent covering statewide issues in Texas. He was one of the few reporters stationed in Rockport when the eye of Hurricane Harvey passed over the Texas coast in 2017. With more than a decade of experience in television and video production, his work has appeared in publications from El Paso to Europe. Rapaport graduated from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Television & Broadcast Journalism.
Christensen was one of the first employees to join TDEM as the agency made its transition to The Texas A&M University System in 2019 after he served stints as the Governor’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Policy Advisor, and Chief of Staff for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. At TDEM, he held the role of Chief of Media and Communications, and added the Preparedness Division to his portfolio last year.
“I am thrilled for Seth’s appointment to work on issues that are critical not just for the Lone Star State but for the entire nation and we wish him the best in this new chapter of service,” said Chief Kidd. “Having worked closely with Seth over the past decade in his various state government capacities, I can confidently say the USDA has selected one of our best and brightest.”
Learn more about TDEM’s Media and Communications team online at tdem.texas.gov/media.
.png)
.png)
