State Animal Emergency Coordinator Awarded Governor’s Citation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State animal emergency coordinator and veterinarian Robert “Bob” Linnabary was recently recognized for his contributions to animal care emergency planning and preparedness by the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security. 

Linnabary was awarded an honorary commission as “Colonel, Aide de Camp” signed by Governor Phil Bredesen and presented by Rick Shipkowski, deputy director of the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security.  He was presented the citation during a joint state and federal animal health officials meeting in Nashville.

“Bob is a tremendous asset to our staff and has contributed immeasurably to animal emergency preparedness in our state,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens.  “Animal care has a direct impact on human care and welfare during emergencies.  Tennesseans can feel assured that the state is in a much position to better respond to an emergency due to his efforts.  We’re proud that Governor Bredesen and the Office of Homeland Security have chosen to honor him in this way.” 

A staff veterinarian with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Linnabary was recognized for helping to develop the state’s emergency plan for animal care.  Known as Emergency Support Function (ESF) 16, the plan is now in use by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and guides the state’s response and care of all animal species in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. 

He was also instrumental in the development of a statewide animal emergency worker credentialing system, which to date has trained more than 1,200 volunteers for on-call emergency duty.  The system Linnabary helped establish has also served as a model for emergency preparedness in other states. 

Linnabary has 30 years of local and state emergency experience and has worked several well-known disasters and emergencies including hurricanes Andrew, Floyd and more recently Katrina.  He also served as a foreign animal disease consultant during the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom and the 2002 outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in poultry in the southwestern United States.     

Prior to joining Agriculture’s animal health staff in 2001, Linnabary held a professorship with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.   He and his wife Phoebe reside in Knoxville.