Sean Polster

Sean Polster, a veteran emergency management professional with over 30 years of experience, was appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin as Chief Deputy State Coordinator of Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). Before joining VDEM, Polster served as the emergency services coordinator for Rappahannock County and held leadership roles at the Department of Homeland Security. As a consultant, he supported major operations, including the COVID-19 response for Baltimore City and “Operation Allies Welcome” with the U.S. Department of State and Army Corps of Engineers. A recognized expert in emergency management, Polster has designed training programs for federal, state and university agencies and has advised first-line supervisors and members of Congress on crisis coordination. He previously served two terms as an at-large council member and vice mayor of Warrenton. He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bluefield College and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Disaster Management from Grand Canyon University; he is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Polster lives in Warrenton, Virginia, with his wife and three children.