Tom Balint, Director of the Office of Emergency Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), has been awarded the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership in managing the Department’s response to critical emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, and other national crises. This award is one of the DOI’s highest honours, granted only once in an employee’s career and reserved for those who have made significant contributions in science, management, or service.
Balint announced the award on Friday, underscoring a remarkable career dedicated to emergency management and resilience. Since joining the Department in 2020, he has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the Interior community and setting a new standard for crisis management during unprecedented challenges. In particular, his leadership was instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he led the Department’s response efforts, collaborated with senior leadership across various Bureaus, and engaged with multiple interagency task forces.
Balint’s contributions were highlighted in the award citation, which reads in part: “In recognition of his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication guiding the Department’s COVID-19 and emergency response efforts for the Office of Emergency Management.” The citation further notes his “visionary approach and tireless commitment” that “safeguarded the Interior community” and established new benchmarks in resilience and crisis management. The Meritorious Service Award shows his capacity to unify Department staff and foster a collaborative, effective response during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
Before his tenure with the DOI, Balint had a distinguished nine-year career at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he served in various high-profile roles, including as Associate Chief Counsel for Resilience. In this role, he oversaw legal strategies for FEMA’s preparedness and continuity programmes and provided strategic counsel on presidential directives and national-level exercises, including the National Exercise Program (NEP) and Capstone Exercises. His expertise extended to advising senior federal officials and overseeing initiatives like the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Preparedness System. Through these efforts, he strengthened the nation’s preparedness and continuity capacities, developing innovative frameworks to protect citizens and enhance national resilience.
At FEMA, Balint was also involved in managing homeland security exercises, implementing fire services outreach, and refining continuity plans that supported executive branch operations. His depth of knowledge and dedication to improving emergency preparedness earned him a reputation as a leader capable of addressing complex, large-scale crises.
Balint’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate his impact at the DOI. He directed the Department’s response by spearheading a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Task Force, coordinating the acquisition and distribution of essential protective supplies, and guiding efforts to safeguard both employees and visitors. His role extended beyond pandemic response, overseeing emergency operations during natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and updating essential emergency frameworks, including the All-Hazards Baseline Operational Plan and the Pandemic Response Plan. His collaborative approach involved coordinating with the National Security Council to enhance the Department’s mission-essential functions and ensure continuity across federal operations.
In addition to his operational responsibilities, Balint’s team-building skills have been widely acknowledged. According to the citation, “Mr. Balint’s exceptional team-building skills fostered a unified, whole-of-department approach to managing the crisis,” which was key in navigating the complexities of the pandemic. His leadership brought together various teams, fostering a shared commitment to addressing the crisis effectively, and his ability to inspire collaboration across agencies played a central role in the Department’s success.