The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today that the fourth cadet class of The Texas Emergency Management Academy in San Antonio has officially begun.
25 cadets have embarked on their eight-month journey in this first of its kind program in the nation operated by TDEM. The Academy provides comprehensive training for the next generation of the emergency management workforce, covering all phases of the discipline: preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation. Graduation is scheduled for Spring 2026.
“Emergency management is about people, those we serve and those who answer the call to serve,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “The Academy shapes leaders who can meet challenges head on, adapt in dynamic situations, and bring critical support to communities when it matters most.”
The Academy offers approximately 1,300 hours of training. Since its inception, the Academy has received more than 450applications from 22 different states and 4 countries. More than 60cadets have successfully completed the rigorous curriculum.
This year’s cadet class brings a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, including military service, fire service, corrections, knowledge of multiple languages, project management, dispatch, and federal emergency management operations. Enrollment for this year’s cadet class was expanded to include local officials and private sector personnel with emergency management roles in Texas.
“Each cadet who walks through our doors represents an investment in stronger communities,” said TDEM Training Division Chief Kade Long. “Through this program, they will gain the technical knowledge, practical experience, and relevant skills to carry them forward in their careers and allow them to make a lasting impact in the emergency management discipline.”
Graduates of The Academy leave within-depth knowledge of Texas emergency management law, disaster planning, finance, resource staging, incident management, Emergency Operations Center(EOC) coordination, hazard mitigation, risk assessments, disaster recovery, resource requests, operations technology, volunteer management, wildland firefighting, public information, private sector partnerships, and other key aspects of emergency management.
In addition to multiple nationally recognized emergency management certifications including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Professional Development Series, Level I Professional Continuity Practitioner program, and the National Emergency Management Basic Academy (NEMBA), graduates also earn basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and achieve National Registry Certification upon completion.
Throughout the program, subject matter experts deliver immersive classroom and field-based instruction, integrating innovative emergency management technologies and real-world exercises to prepare cadets for service in emergency management roles across Texas and the nation.
TDEM will also be hosting a cadet class in Fort Worth for the first time, providing additional opportunities for training and developing the state’s emergency management workforce. That cadet class begins in October and will graduate in late spring of 2026.
Additional information about The Academy is available at tdem.texas.gov/academy.
.png)
.png)
