Arizona’s Division of Emergency Management Director Wendy Smith-Reeve resigned Saturday, officials confirmed.

Smith-Reeve, who led the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, submitted her resignation and it was accepted by Gov. Doug Ducey’s office on Saturday, according to a statement from DEMA. In her resignation letter, she cited concerns that her role is “being addressed and my presence and function is duplicative” during this “event,” seemingly referring to the current coronavirus pandemic. 

She detailed her concerns in a separate email accompanying her resignation letter. Smith-Reeve wrote that it was “clear that my role is being addressed by the Governor’s staff and ADHS (Arizona Department of Heath Services) which means my presence and function is duplicative.” 

Anthony Cox, who has served as deputy director since 2017, was named acting director.

“We appreciate Deputy Director Smith-Reeve’s service,” DEMA’s Maj. Gen. Michael T. McGuire said in a release from the department. “As Director of DEMA, I am grateful for Mr. Cox’s willingness to assume the director of the Division of Emergency Management position. I have full confidence and trust that Mr. Cox, along with the deep bench of talented and capable leaders on the DEMA team will not miss a beat as we drive on to serve the great state and citizens of Arizona.”

Smith-Reeve, who reported to McGuire, managed the state’s emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts. Her resignation comes in the midst of a national coronavirus outbreak that has left Arizona and much of the country in a state of emergency. Smith-Reeve played a major role in the state’s response and was featured prominently in recent news conferences. 

Ducey chief of staff Daniel Scarpinato tweeted out a statement in reaction to the news on Saturday evening.

“Arizona is grateful to have the very steady leadership of Major General McGuire leading our emergency operations during this critical time,” he wrote. “We won’t miss a beat with him and his team at the helm,” he tweeted.

Reach Ryan at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @vlahovichryan.

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