Heather Freeman serves as Director of the Business Emergency Operations Center (BEOC) for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen coordination between emergency management and the private sector. She works with businesses, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and government partners to improve information sharing, resource coordination, and disaster resilience throughout Mississippi.
Heather brings more than 18 years of experience in public safety and public service to her role. She began her career in emergency communications in 2007 and spent 12 years as a 911 dispatcher with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office and the Flowood Police Department. This experience provided a strong foundation in incident coordination, situational awareness, and supporting emergency operations.
Heather joined MEMA in 2019 as a member of the Office of Preparedness. During disaster activations, she primarily served in the Planning Section while also supporting the Operations Section when needed. During the COVID-19 response, she was assigned to the Logistics Section, broadening her experience across multiple areas of emergency operations.
In 2023, Heather joined the Business Emergency Operations Center as MEMA’s Private Sector Liaison and later advanced to BEOC Director. During activations, she leads the BEOC and coordinates information and resource needs between the State Emergency Operations Center and private-sector partners. She also serves as the State Donations Manager when donation centers are established following a disaster.
In 2024, Heather deployed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to support North Carolina’s Business Emergency Operations Center following Hurricane Helene. The experience helped inform improvements to Mississippi’s private-sector coordination program, including the development of a dedicated physical BEOC within the State Emergency Operations Center. The facility was activated for the first time during Winter Storm Fern in 2026.
Heather serves as Chair of the National Emergency Management Association’s Private Sector Leads Subcommittee, where she works with emergency management professionals from across the country to share best practices and strengthen private-sector coordination in disaster preparedness and response.
Heather is a graduate of the National Emergency Management Basic Academy and Advanced Academy. Her approach to emergency management emphasizes collaboration, relationship-building, and ensuring public- and private-sector partners are prepared to work together when Mississippi communities need them most.
Heather resides in Brandon with her husband, Jesse.
