About

Josh leads emergency management and business continuity efforts at UIC, developing risk-informed plans that protect people, data, and infrastructure while enabling effective response to incidents of all scales. His work integrates preparedness, mitigation, and crisis coordination into structured, campus-wide systems.

Previously, Josh served with the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management where he held key leadership roles in the Emergency Operations Center and managed major grant programs supporting continuity, wildfire mitigation, and evacuation planning. He also strengthened partnerships across government, tribal, volunteer, and private-sector organizations.

At the Arizona Department of Health Services, Josh designed and implemented statewide training and exercises aligned with federal standards, contributing to numerous emergency plans and supporting the Health Emergency Operations Center.

He began his career at Walgreens advancing business continuity and risk reduction initiatives for southwest regional preparedness efforts.

Josh is a certified Professional Continuity Practitioner and FEMA Professional Development Series graduate.

Dan Cronin serves as the Emergency Manager – Administrative Operations since July 2023. Dan is responsible for the preparation, review, and publication of the various university emergency plans, including the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Functional Annexes, and Business Continuity & Resilience plans.

Dan graduated from Illinois State University (ISU) with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies and a Minor in Sociology. Prior to graduation, Dan served as an Intern at the Mount Prospect Police Department (MPPD). While at MPPD, Dan assisted with administrative tasks, research, community outreach, and department support to identify areas of public safety operations and department efficiency.

Dan earned his Master of Science degree from Purdue University Global in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. During his master’s program, areas of study included Crisis and Emergency Management; Planning and Operations in a Crisis; Homeland Security Policies, Principles, Procedures, Plans; and Risk, Vulnerability, and Capability Assessment Methods.

Following completion of his master’s degree, Dan worked for Tetra Tech as an Emergency Management Planner. During this time, he assisted in planning and evaluating of an exercise for a major airline at O’Hare International Airport and planning efforts for a city in Wisconsin. Dan also conducted data collection and research of local statistics for the HAZMAT Commodity Flow Study for Cook County.

Now as the Emergency Manager – Campus Operations at UIC, Dan is dedicated to enhancing the preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience across the university. With expertise in planning, training, and incident coordination, he plays a key role in developing and maintaining emergency operations plans, continuity programs, and situational awareness to support effective decision-making during critical events.

Gregory A. DeVries is a Chief Fire Officer and pre-hospital healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in fire and emergency services. An Air Force veteran, he brings extensive leadership in emergency operations, incident management, and system-level coordination across fire and EMS agencies.

Based in Elmwood, Illinois, DeVries has served in key leadership roles, including Supervisory Firefighter and Assistant Chief of Operations with Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Rescue. He has managed multi-station operations, led diverse personnel, and overseen complex budgets while maintaining strict compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

DeVries is credentialed as a FEMA Type 2 Incident Commander and holds additional Incident Command System qualifications in Operations and Planning. His experience includes managing large-scale incidents, coordinating multi-agency responses, and supporting regional preparedness initiatives.

He currently serves as a Board Member of the Illinois Professional Emergency Management Association (IPEMA), contributing to statewide efforts in emergency management, training, and policy development.

His recognitions include the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award and multiple military commendations. DeVries holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and maintains numerous fire and EMS certifications. He remains committed to advancing emergency management and public safety through leadership, collaboration, and professional development.