Gary Lewis Joins CSM as Executive Director of Public Safety and Preparedness

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) welcomes Gary Lewis as the new executive director of CSM's Public Safety and Preparedness. In this role, Lewis is responsible for the overall protection of life and property at all CSM campuses and locations.  

Lewis, of Indian Head, brings more than 23 years of public safety experience. Before joining CSM this summer, Lewis worked as an emergency management specialist at the Charles County Government  Department of Emergency Services and as an emergency management specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Prior to that, Lewis served as a police officer with the Florence Police Department in Arizona and as a city councilman in Coolidge, Ariz.  

“Joining the CSM community has been an experience I have not had before,” Lewis said. “The faculty and leadership have been beyond welcoming. I am happy my path has brought me to CSM, and I am looking forward to growing with all the Hawks!”  

“We are extremely fortunate to have Gary leading the CSM public safety team,” said Dr. Bill Comey, vice president of Operations and Planning. “His extensive public safety background and experience will serve the CSM community well in times of emergency and severe weather.”    

Lewis holds a master of science degree in Emergency Management from Arizona State University, a bachelor of science degree in Emergency Management from Northern Arizona University, as well as another bachelor of science degree in Justice Administration from the same university.  

Lewis has been married for more than 25 years and has four sons, ages 13 to 24. His hobbies include watching football and baseball and his favorite teams are the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns.  

Lewis oversees 15 employees in CSM’s public safety department, assigned to the campuses at Hughesville, La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick.   

For more information about CSM’s public safety department, visit https://www.csmd.edu/ready/public-safety/index.html