With 25 years of experience in search and rescue, Debra served as a FEMA certified Canine Search Specialist with her SDF-trained Search Dog Abby as a member of California Task Force 1. She was deployed to the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the La Conchita mudslide near Santa Barbara. Debra also deployed on other urban and wilderness emergencies while acting as SDF Program Director. She served 10 years on the FEMA Canine Sub-Group and as a FEMA Search Team Testing Evaluator for 15 years. In 2005, Debra retired from active emergency service to succeed Wilma Melville as SDF’s Executive Director, a position she held until April 2017 when she transitioned into her current role as Director of Finance.