Dewberry's Deborah G. Mills, CFM, of the Fairfax office was recently honored with the Association of State Floodplain Managers' (ASFPM) Jerry Louthain Distinguished Service Award at the Annual Conference in Hartford, Connecticut. Established in 1995, the yearly award is the highest form of recognition given to individuals who, through their long-term efforts, have clearly influenced the work of ASFPM – an organization of professionals involved in floodplain management, flood hazard mitigation, flood preparedness, and flood warning and recovery.

A highly respected thought leader, Mills continuously goes above and beyond in her service to the organization. She currently serves as the co-chair of ASFPM's Flood Mitigation Committee, with the mission of pursuing wise national policies that aim to reduce loss of life and property damage resulting from floods.

Mills has 35 years of experience in hazard mitigation, emergency management, and environmental leadership. In her role at Dewberry, she serves as the national hazard mitigation subject-matter expert, managing numerous hazard mitigation plan update projects and FEMA task orders. Mills has responded to 16 federally declared disasters, and worked in the Katrina Biloxi Area Field Office (AFO). Through ASFPM and Dewberry, she supports the National Emergency Management Association's National Mitigation Alliance and sits of the National Hazard Mitigation Association Board of Directors.