Trump taps Georgia GEMA director for federal role

Greg Bluestein, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan 16, 2025

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President-elect Donald Trump tapped Georgia’s top emergency management official to join his administration in a role with the Small Business Administration.

The Republican said Thursday he appointed Chris Stallings as the assistant administrator for disaster recovery and resilience at the SBA. He would work with former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was tapped to lead the agency.

Trump said Stallings would work to “make sure that when disasters happen, our government responds quickly and capably to protect our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.”

Gov. Brian Kemp selected Stallings, a former Georgia State Patrol captain, to lead the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency in 2020.

He’s led the agency through multiple weather disasters, but none as severe as Hurricane Helene, which savaged parts of east and South Georgia. He hit the road for days after the storm, working to bring aid to small towns that suffered generational damage.

It’s not immediately clear who Kemp will tap to replace him in the prominent state role.