January 31, 2025
Blume to lead Office of Emergency Management
Submitted by the Division of Risk and Safety
Richelle "Rikki" Blume has been hired as director of the Office of Emergency Management, effective Feb. 3.
Blume will oversee the university's emergency prevention, preparedness, response, continuity and recovery efforts while working closely with campus, county and state partners. She will also align the office with the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center's emergency management efforts.
She has an impressive history at the state and federal level of emergency management and strategic operations. Most recently, she served as a deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she played a pivotal role in advancing the department's operational priorities.
Before that, she was the strategic plans and training officer for the Kansas National Guard, where she developed two operational plans detailing National Guard civil support provided by the Kansas Air and Army National Guard during state disasters. Additionally, Blume led the creation of the strategic plan for the Kansas adjutant general's department, integrating objectives across multiple entities, including the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas Homeland Security, Starbase and Civil Air Patrol.
During her distinguished 27-year military career, Blume also served as resource management planner for the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, championing the Comprehensive Resource Management and Credentialing System and providing critical logistics support during three federally declared emergencies.
"Rikki is a great addition to our risk and safety team as we continue to enhance and refine our emergency management capabilities," said Brandon Chance, associate vice president and chief risk and safety officer. "She is a proven strategic leader who is highly collaborative and will partner well with our stakeholders."
Blume received a master's degree in homeland security from Colorado Technical University and her bachelor's degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.