Photo of Gary Crowell

Gary E. Crowell

  • Gary attended Washington Elementary School on Park Avenue.  He graduated from Tyrone High School in 1961.  In 1965, he earned a bachelor of Science Degree from The Pennsylvania State University.
     
    During semester breaks from college, Gary worked at Black Brothers, Gardner's Candy, and was a lifeguard at the Tyrone community swimming pool.
     
    Upon graduation from Penn State, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.  During his tour of duty, Gary saw combat in Vietnam for which he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and three Presidential Unit Citations.
     
    After being discharged from the Marine Corps, Gary returned to Pennsylvania and settled in the Harrisburg area.  He spent most of his career in state government having served as Secretary of the Department of General Services; Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania Senate; Executive Director of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission; and Director of the Office of Administrative Services, Director of the Office of Administrative Services, Department of Justice.  Gary was also Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. 
     
    In July of 2001, Gary received a White House appointment as Assistant Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, DC.  Most recently, he served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge.
     
    Gary was inducted into the Pennsylvania Military and Veterans Hall of Fame.  He is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
     
    His past memberships include:  Pennsylvania Ambassador Council; Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority; Governor's Green Government Council; Philadelphia Shipyard Development Corporation; Telecommunications Infrastructure Task Force, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Pennsylvania; and the Keystone Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.
     
    Gary currently resides in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Donna.