John Wheeler, Secretary

Homeland Security & Emergency Management

John Wheeler is the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Homeland Security Advisor to Governor Bill Richardson. He was named the Department's Secretary by Governor Richardson in May 2009, having previously been appointed to the Cabinet as the Crime Policy Advisor in 2005. In addition to the State's intelligence and anti-terrorism programs, Mr. Wheeler also oversees the daily administration of the State's disaster and emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Wheeler worked with the Department of Public Safety since 1991 and served as Chief Counsel since 1997. Mr. Wheeler's primary expertise is in emergency management and response, law enforcement and criminal law, Indian jurisdiction, and legislative affairs.  He is responsible for drafting many laws in New Mexico currently on the books especially those involving the areas of Public Health Emergency Response, Sex Offender Registry and DWI.  John Wheeler has been a volunteer firefighter since 1990, and is currently on leave from his position as an Assistant Chief with Santa Fe County Fire Department. Mr. Wheeler is also a member of New Mexico Task Force One, New Mexico's Urban Search and Rescue team which deployed in 2005 to assist after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Mr. Wheeler is a native Santa Fean with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Mexico, Summa Cum Laude in New Mexico History and is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, and is a member of the Massachusetts and New Mexico State Bars.