The Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency would like to announce the promotion of one current member and the addition of one new member- both strong EMA professionals, to their staff of volunteers.
On Monday, February 23, 2026 current EMA volunteer Danny Neal will be promoted to the Deputy Director of the agency. His pursuit of a career within the emergency management field over the last few years has been a fruitful task, with Danny completing numerous IEMA sponsored courses. Putting his knowledge into practice by completing the preparation for training exercises, as well as focusing on volunteer recruitment and retention are some of his specialties. His expansive weather knowledge and training ability is an attribute that is impossible to pass up at this time. Director Anderson said about Mr. Neal, “Danny will be a major benefit to the Iroquois County EMA along with the residents of the county. His ability to hit the ground running on the first day is rare, especially from a volunteer. I look forward to helping him with whatever guidance he may need to expand and mold our current roster of volunteers.” Anderson continued, “Danny’s extensive weather knowledge and forecasting abilities is recognized by the National Weather Service, allowing him to teach the sanctioned NWS severe weather spotting classes. That is a huge benefit to the county. His work as a severe weather spotter in the field has generated thousands of followers, and that expertise will be available to us.” Danny is currently a volunteer with the Paxton Emergency Services.
EMA will also be adding Jason Madden to our roster. Jason is a full-time emergency management professional, as he currently works as the Emergency Management Training Coordinator for the University of Illinois, where he has served for several years. He is also a member of Paxton Emergency Services. He holds a degree in Geography from Northern Illinois University and has completed both the IEMA-OHS and FEMA Professional Development Series and has also earned accreditation as an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager. Anderson stated about Jason, “Having someone with Jason’s abilities within our staff to design and write the complex training exercises, will allow for our agency to hold more training with the fire, EMS, and law enforcement departments county wide. That is one of the primary functions of any emergency management agency as those training exercises allow our first responders to be ready and able to handle the different situations that are presented to them every day.”
“I certainly look forward to working with both Danny and Jason to continue moving the Iroquois County EMA in the positive direction my Assistant Director Chris Meredith and the rest of our volunteers have taken us. Danny and Jason will make it easier to continue down this path faster and give us the ability to expand to provide other divisions such as a search and rescue team or a rehab sector to support the first responders.”
Scott Anderson, Director
Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency
