Meeting/Event Information

Managing Crisis, Confusion & Chaos

                        Our September 11, 2013, meeting will be dedicated to the memory and recognition of the First Responders, Firefighters, Policemen, and civilians that perished in that horrific tragedy, which took place 12 years ago on September 11, 2001, known as 911.

Director Benson, Division of Fire Services – Memphis, will be the Keynote Speaker at this special event and dinner on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.   He will be joined by two guest speakers, City Councilman Harold B. Collins who was elected to the Memphis Council in November 2007 and served as the 2010 Chairman of the Council plus Retired Navy Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Commander Joe R. Namie Jr., who is also a PMI certified PMP Project Manager

               The focus of this dedication is to help people understand how the world and this great country, the United States of America, has been changed by this tragedy now referred to as “911”…and not to be confused with the emergency service telephone contact number. In order to convey the aftermath and ensuing changes that have occurred since 9/11/2001 it’s necessary to revisit life as we knew it prior to 911 and the events that took place on the date in history.

                  Alvin D. Benson was appointed as Director of the Memphis Fire Department effective August 5, 2008. As Director, he will strategically guide the fire and emergency medical services of the 1,834 member department. He has over 26 years of fire service experience, many of which are in the area of Fire Prevention.  During his career, Director Benson has achieved certifications, awards and recognition from various bodies and groups. He served as department spokesperson, liaison, served on various boards, and overseen operational and fire safety education efforts of the Fire Museum of Memphis.  In 2002, Benson became the first African American ever appointed as Chief Fire Marshal. In April 2004, Benson was appointed to Deputy Director. Benson holds a master's degree in Business Administration (Webster University) and a bachelor's degree in Fire Administration/Fire Prevention Technology (University of Memphis). He remains active in local, state and national organizations designed to enhance the fire service. In addition to being a fire service leader, Benson enjoys the outdoors, is an active member of his church, and is a talented singer. He and his wife Audrey were married in 1994 and have four children.

    LT Joe Namie retired from the United States Navy at the end of 2011, as a Lieutenant Commander. He served 40 years in both a reserve and active duty capacity. He joined the Navy at age 17 and served in Vietnam in the brown water navy and onboard the U.S.S. Hollister (DD-788) in special operations missions with Operation Linebacker at the end of the war. Upon discharge from active duty joined the United States Navy Reserve and held civilian positions in CPA firms as a tax and audit specialist, The United States Treasury as a Special Agent in the criminal investigative division, expatriate financial director for Tenneco Oil Corporation and Global Service Program Administrator with Federal Express Corporation (FedEx). He was called to active duty on September 12, 2001 and served as an Intelligence Officer at the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Pentagon. One of the major projects he worked on was the drone programs known as the Predator which developed video feeds into accurate weapons systems and Computer Network Operations of Defense and Attack against terrorist networks. Upon completion of active duty he returned to FedEx for one year where he resumed completion of a state of the BI application, called AutoPay. His development of this program marked the end of his FedEx career when he opted for the early retirement packages FedEx offered in late 2003 so he could return to active duty with the Navy where America’s intelligence community was reeling from 911 challenges in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). He served in various project management capacities during the various tours, most notable as LT Namie, chief intelligence officer for OARDEC at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he conducted the last of the historical Enemy Combatant Tribunals. In this capacity he was responsible for SCI level analysis of data of various formats in developing the cases for determining whether the prisoners of war picked up on the battlefields of Afghanistan were indeed true enemy combatants who should stand trial in the forthcoming administrative hearings. He finished his Navy career with Navy Personnel Research, Studies and Technology (NPRST) as a principal investigator (PI) continuing to develop systems and a project management standard for other PIs. 

He is married to Lisa Namie, former principal at Fleming Associates- Architects and Planners; they have three children, an assistant U.S. States Attorney, a social worker and a son who is a student at LSU. He manages a tax practice, is a realtor and property manager with John Stamps Realty Company in Collierville and a part time missionary to the Republic of Liberia where he oversees the operation of a leprosy colony in the village of Mbalotahun.

Councilman Harold B. Collins was elected to the Memphis Council in November 2007 and served as the 2010 Chairman of the Council. He is a graduate of Memphis Catholic High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis. Mr. Collins is a Special Assistant to the Shelby County District Attorney General and is responsible for violent juvenile crime and truancy. Councilman Collins is also responsible for the District Attorney's Mentoring Program for middle schools, which include Humes, Vance, Westside, Chickasaw, Cypress, Hamilton, Hickory Ridge, Sherwood and Ridgeway. Mr. Collins previously owned and operated Advanced Corrections, Inc., a private probation firm for non-violent offenders. With more than 20 years of Criminal Justice experience, Councilman Collins has extensive knowledge of local, state and federal governmental agencies. Councilman Collins is active in civic and community affairs and serves on the Board of Directors of Memphis Athletic Ministries and Methodist Hospital South Community Advisory Board. Councilman Collins has served as past president of Memphis Area Neighborhood Watch and University of Memphis Rebounders, and past board member of the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board.
Councilman Collins is also a member and Past President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Memphis Alumni Chapter. He is a 2009 Leadership Academy graduate, 2006 graduate of Nexus Leadership Institute, 1999 graduate of the Leadership Institute of Memphis and was named a "Top 40 under 40" by Memphis Business Journal magazine. Councilman Collins is Past President of the National Convocation of Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Councilman Collins and his wife Kimberly Williams have two daughters, Sydney and Erin. The family attends Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.