Staff Spotlight: William “Chip” Reilly III, MSEM, CEM
Barnstable County’s Emergency Preparedness Division plays a critical role in keeping Cape Cod’s residents, visitors, and communities safe through planning, coordination, and response activities across the region. At the center of these efforts is William “Chip” Reilly III, the County’s Emergency Preparedness Director, who leads county-wide preparedness initiatives, regional planning, and multi-agency coordination for incidents large and small.
Chip joined Barnstable County after a long career in the maritime industry and local emergency management, bringing with him decades of leadership experience and a passion for resilience. A Cape Cod resident and graduate of Northeastern University, Chip holds a Master of Science in Emergency Management and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), a credential held by only a select group of emergency management professionals nationwide.
Since stepping into his role, Chip has worked to strengthen and modernize the County’s emergency preparedness capabilities. He oversees the Emergency Preparedness Division, coordinates the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC), and the Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC), while also serving on the Barnstable County All-Hazards Incident Management Team. Under his leadership, the County has enhanced its public health emergency planning, supported all 15 towns—and the islands of Nantucket and Dukes County—through exercises and training, and expanded regional coordination efforts spanning everything from hurricane response to hazardous materials planning.
Chip is known for his collaborative approach and his ability to unite partners across public health, public safety, emergency management, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Whether providing support to the Cape’s technical rescue teams, developing regional Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) plans, or facilitating HSEEP-compliant exercises, Chip’s focus is always on building strong, well-integrated systems that allow communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster.
Before joining county government, Chip held senior leadership roles in maritime operations and served for many years in the Scouting community, where he continues to volunteer as the Scoutmaster in Sandwich—another avenue through which he inspires youth leadership and service.
Chip is an invaluable member of the Department of Health and Environment. His dedication, professionalism, and deep commitment to Cape Cod’s resilience are evident in every project he leads and every partnership he builds. We are fortunate to have him guiding the County’s preparedness, coordination, and response efforts.
Fun fact: Chip blends his emergency management expertise with his community volunteerism—often using the Incident Command System (ICS) to help Scouts organize major events. The Scouts don’t always know they’re learning emergency management principles, but they always benefit from the structure and teamwork he encourages.
