SALISBURY — Rowan County Emergency Services Chief Frank Thomason was awarded the Col. Philip Nichlos Waters  Award on Tuesday evening at the 2017 North Carolina Emergency Management Association Fall Conference in Sunset Beach.

The award is presented annually to the local emergency management coordinator or director who is considered to have demonstrated outstanding achievement on the job and has contributed to the overall good and advancement of the state’s emergency management system.

Thomason has 31 years of service in local government in Rowan County with the last 13 of those as Rowan County emergency services chief.

“Rowan County has been fortunate to have one of the best emergency management directors in the nation. Having Frank at the helm is comforting because I know that our community is in capable, trustworthy and compassionate hands,” Rowan County Manager Aaron Church said.