Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Matt Z. Ruszczak announced on social media that he has joined the External Affairs team at the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), marking a new chapter in his career in Texas public service.
“I am very excited to share with y’all that, a little over a couple of months ago, I joined the amazing External Affairs team at the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM),” Matt wrote. He described the move as “a genuine privilege” after working in the Texas House, where he interacted with “many passionate & dedicated state agency GR folks.”
Matt noted that he stepped into his new role during an active response effort. “Coming into the job in the middle of the response to the July floods, and just ahead of the start of the special sessions, definitely equated to, once again, learning from a fire hose,” he explained. Despite the challenges, he emphasized that the experience “further solidified my sincere respect for the men & women serving their fellow Texans with a TDEM badge on their left chest, 24/7/365, rain, shine, hail, or high water.”
Matt highlighted the continuity between his legislative experience and his new position. “I relish the opportunity to not only see the legislative process from another perspective, but also to take part in the implementation of various bills that made it across the finish line in the 89th Texas Legislature,” he stated.
Matt also connected his career path to long-standing personal interests. “Now, random personal & professional interests, be it my childhood curiosity of emergency vehicles, my teenage years’ interest in the German emergency response service THW … my assistance of business emergency preparedness & recovery planning efforts during my chamber of commerce days, and my support of the Texas House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee in the 88th, they all appear to be perfectly logical milestones along the path that led me to where I stand today,” he reflected.
Closing his announcement, he emphasized his enthusiasm for the new role. “I couldn’t be more humbled, honored, and excited to take the next steps on this journey, serving the fine people of the State of Texas at TDEM,” he wrote.
Matt’s transition to TDEM reflects a continuation of his public service, bridging legislative experience with emergency management responsibilities at the state level.
