The Prince George's County Council Human Services and Public Safety Committee voted 5-0 on Oct. 2 to move favorably the county executive's nomination of Dr. Katrina Gomez to serve as director of the county Office of Homeland Security. The county executive's office transmitted the appointment on Aug. 28, 2025.

Gomez, who has served as acting director and previously as deputy chief of the Bureau of Homeland Security for Prince George's County, told the committee she has spent roughly 60 days in the acting role and outlined current staffing, preparedness and outreach efforts. Supporters and the committee highlighted her more than 19 years in law enforcement, advanced management degrees and executive training.

Committee members said the nominee's experience and internal knowledge of the agency informed their unanimous vote to move the nomination favorably. The committee took the procedural vote after a short presentation by the county executive's appointments liaison and remarks from a colleague who introduced Gomez.

Dr. Melody Batten Mickens, appearing on behalf of Gomez, told the committee Gomez "has hit the ground running" since joining the office and has assessed workspace, culture, staffing and program needs across the agency. Batten Mickens said Gomez has focused on community preparedness and had already pushed to begin a pathways program to expose students to public safety communications and 9-1-1 careers.

Gomez described the Office of Homeland Security as composed of three divisions: administration, the Office of Emergency Management, and Public Safety Communications. She said the office has partnered with four Prince George's County public high schoolsBowie, High Point, Potomac and Parkdaleto allow three to five students from each school to earn a certificate as a 9-1-1 call dispatcher and intern with the county's public safety communications division.

She also cited a countywide preparedness exercise scheduled for Oct. 29, recent modernization of emergency operation center equipment and a reduction in vacancies in public safety communications from 19 to 12 with an academy class of eight recruits due to graduate in November. Gomez flagged concern about funding for limited-term, grant-funded employees and said she is working with regional partners on those matters. She said a 90-day goal is to have more than half of county residents registered for electronic emergency alerts and to pursue higher pay for 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers in the region.

The committee motion to "move favorable" the nomination was made and seconded (mover and seconder not specified on the record). Committee roll-call recorded these votes: Chair Blige yes; Vice Chair Fisher yes; Council member Olson yes; Council vice chair Oriada yes; Council member Watson yes. The motion carried, 5-0.

Pursuant to the county executive's transmittal, the committee's favorable motion advances the nomination process; formal next steps were not detailed at the committee meeting.