Kristi Rollwagen, Director
Kristi Rollwagen has been the director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division since May 2023. Before this appointment, Rollwagen spent 13 years as the manager of emergency programs for the Metropolitan Airports Commission at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. In this position she administered the Airport Emergency Plan and the Continuity of Operations Plan, executing trainings and exercises that tested the airport's emergency response readiness. She also managed all aspects of the airport triennial exercise.
Rollwagen previously worked as the HSEM grant program administrator and the Statewide Hazardous Materials Response Teams coordinator with the State Fire Marshal Division from 1992 to 2002.
Prior to her time at the Department of Public Safety, Rollwagen spent 15 years in the fire service, starting as a firefighter in the Mankato Fire Department in 1995. She then joined the Minneapolis Fire Department as a captain. Rollwagen was promoted to deputy chief of emergency preparedness and rose to the role of interim assistant chief in 2007. She served in Minneapolis until 2010.
Rollwagen currently serves on the All-Hazard Incident Management Team and is an A-Team member for the Minnesota Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
Rollwagen has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and biology and a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Saint Thomas. She also has a master's degree in public safety administration from Saint Mary's University.
