Benjamin Duncan has been named South Carolina’s first resilience director, Governor Henry McMaster announced on Tuesday. The position needs to be confirmed by the state Senate.
As the state’s CRO, Duncan will be director of the South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office and head of the state’s Resilience Office, created by the Legislature in 2020.
The firm develops and implements a state plan coordinating resilience and disaster recovery efforts with federal, state, local and non-governmental entities. The CRO also oversees grant programs that focus on rebuilding or repairing homes damaged by weather events, such as hurricanes, and manages federal funds that can help with disaster recovery.
The legislature also established the South Carolina Resilience and Disaster Relief Fund, which will be used for disaster assistance, risk mitigation and infrastructure improvements.
“Duncan’s exemplary leadership and extensive experience at the Disaster Recovery Office will be essential in his new role as South Carolina’s first resilience director,” said McMaster. “Just look at the management of existing programs that have resulted in thousands of South Carolina residents finding safe and reliable housing after suffering devastating losses at the hands of natural disasters.”
Duncan, 60, has worked at the state’s Disaster Recovery Office since its creation in 2015.
“Through appropriate coordination, cooperation and collaboration, the South Carolina Office of Resilience can ensure that the state is maximizing the effectiveness of all available resources to better protect the lives and properties of our citizens,” said Duncan. Southern Carolinians are a resilient people. From disaster to disaster, we saw our state double, but not break. “
Duncan has a degree from Benedict College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Richland County, is married and has two children.