The Santa Barbara Search & Rescue Foundation (SBSRF) has named Thomas Tighe to its Board of Directors.
Tighe brings more than two decades of leadership experience in global humanitarian response, nonprofit governance, and crisis management to support the foundation’s mission of strengthening Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue.
Tighe recently concluded a 24-year tenure as president/CEO of Direct Relief, where he led the organization’s growth into one of the world’s most respected humanitarian aid providers, SBSRF said.
Under Tighe’s leadership, Direct Relief expanded its global reach, scaled its emergency response capabilities, and became a key partner to first responders and healthcare providers during disasters from hurricanes and wildfires to global public health emergencies.
Tighe is a graduate of UC Berkeley and earned his law degree from UC Law San Francisco. His past roles include COO of the Peace Corps, counsel to a U.S. Senate committee, and visiting professor at UC Santa Barbara. He is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand.
Tighe’s commitment to emergency readiness is personal and rooted in Santa Barbara County. During the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides, Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue volunteers worked alongside other first responders to save lives and assist the community.
Tighe said the experience underscored for him the life-saving importance of local preparedness, rapid response, and volunteer-led rescue efforts.
“The events of January 2018 left a lasting impression on me,” said Tighe. “Seeing neighbors, volunteers, and first responders take immediate action — often at great personal risk — reinforced how essential local search and rescue readiness is.
“These teams are the backbone of community response when disaster strikes.”
The Santa Barbara Search & Rescue Foundation supports the all-volunteer Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue team by securing funding, training and resources that ensure volunteers are prepared to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“We are extremely honored to welcome Thomas to the board,” said Joe Plowman, co-founder of the Santa Barbara Search & Rescue Foundation, treasurer of the foundation, and vice president of the Search & Rescue Team.
“His many years of experience leading a large, mission-driven organization like Direct Relief will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the foundation and serve our community,” Plowman said. “His perspective on preparedness, leadership, and long-term sustainability will help guide our work for years to come.”
As a board member, Tighe will support strategic planning, organizational sustainability, and major fundraising initiatives, helping position the foundation for long-term impact and resilience.
For more, visit https://www.sbsarfoundation.com/.