Sharon Luce is a native Nevadan, and lives in North Las
Vegas, Nevada. Luce assumed the duties as the Deputy Administrator and Chief of
Emergency Management / Homeland Security for the State of Nevada on October 3,
2023. She also served as the Acting Administrator and Chief of Emergency
Management / Homeland Security from September 11, 2024 to November 1, 2024.
Luce possesses 15+ years of experience in homeland security
and emergency management. With a background that spans diverse industries,
including hospitality, gambling, casinos, and state government, Luce has earned
recognition for her dedication to exceptional organizational leadership.
Before assuming her role in state government, Luce spent
over a decade in the private sector, holding various roles at The Venetian Las
Vegas under the ownership of Las Vegas Sands Corporation. These roles included
Programs Manager - Emergency Management and EMT Programs, Security Shift
Operations Manager, Hotel Operations Front Desk Manager, Assistant Security
Shift Operations Manager, and Emergency Medical Technician/Security Officer.
During her 12+ year tenure at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Luce demonstrated
leadership in physical security, emergency management and homeland security,
hotel operations, and program and project management.
From November 2016 to March 2021, as Programs Manager -
Emergency Management and EMT Programs, Luce effectively managed a substantial
EMT Program operational budget, showcasing her financial management skills. She
also spearheaded developing, planning, and implementing the Business Continuity
Management Program (BCMP), emphasizing the importance of risk management,
emergency response, crisis management, and business continuity planning,
training, and exercises. Her keen understanding of emergency management
principles and business acumen ensured that The Venetian Resort Las Vegas had
robust plans for various contingencies.
Luce joined in the NV OEM in March 2021 as a Program Officer
2 in the Mission Support Section and has held roles such as Management Analyst
2 – State Planner, and Management Analyst 3 – Southern Nevada Operations
Supervisor. Currently serving as the Deputy Administrator and Chief of the
Nevada Office of Emergency Management (NV OEM), Luce actively leads as the
internal day-to-day leader. She implements strategic direction from the
Governor’s Office and NV OEM Administrator and Chief. Luce oversees and coordinates
statewide federal and state homeland security and emergency management
programs, including disaster relief and assistance efforts. She is a liaison to
federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.
Luce demonstrated crisis leadership skills during various
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations throughout her career, including
high-profile homeland security special events such as US Presidential visits
during the first Trump Administration, New Year's Eve events, and major visitor
conventions like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and ShotShow. Luce has
served in key leadership positions during two Presidentially Declared Disasters
as the Incident Commander for the 2021 Clark County Nevada COVID-19 mission and
as the Planning Section Chief for the 2023 Atmospheric River-2 mission. In
2024, Luce was appointed by Governor Lombardo to serve on the Nevada System of
Higher Education Chancellor’s Ad Hoc Public Safety Committee. She was also the
Acting Administrator / Chief for the State of Nevada during the 2024 Davis
Fire.
Luce holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
from the State University of New York at Canton College of Technology,
graduating magna cum laude. She is a 2025 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate
School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security - Executive Leader Program.
Luce has an Advanced Project Management Certification from the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas. Luce is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), endorsed by the
International Association of Emergency Managers and a Certified Nevada Emergency
Manager, endorsed by the Nevada Emergency Preparedness Association (NEPA). She
is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute
(EMI) graduate and alumni of its Basic Academy and Advanced Academy and holds a
certificate from FEMA EMI as a Level 1 Professional Continuity Practitioner.