The American Red Cross of Central California has named Tony Briggs its CEO, a role in which he will oversee all Red Cross service delivery for 10 counties and nearly 4.5 million residents.
A native of Philadelphia, Briggs completed a successful 24-year career in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of chief petty officer. His career highlights include leading 80 sailors deployed throughout the Western Pacific in support of humanitarian actions.
He was an integral member of a team that brought a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Los Angeles, showing off the Navy’s finest to more than 2 million individual media impressions over a four-day period.
“I am truly honored to serve this region and have seen first-hand how resilient this community is,” Briggs said. “Through the work of our staff and volunteers, the Red Cross has been there for the community at its most trying times to provide essential comfort and care.
“We’re more focused than ever to help our neighbors become better prepared for disaster and I’m looking forward to leading this team of compassionate humanitarians.”
Briggs joined the Red Cross as a communications manager for blood services in southern California where he was responsible all communications, public affairs and marketing from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
In September 2015, he accepted a position as the communications director for the Desert to the Sea Region and served as a national spokesman for the Red Cross at some of its largest disaster responses including Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Hurricane Irma in Florida and the Camp Fire in California.
Briggs earned his degree in communications from the University of Maryland University College and holds certificates in six sigma quality improvement. He and his wife Kelly have five and four grandchildren.
The Red Cross Central California Region serves Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Merced counties, and in the last year provided relief to nearly 900 families affected by disaster.
For more information about the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org/centralcalifornia or cruzrojaamericana.org.
— Nicole Maul for Central Valley Chapter American Red Cross.