She helped Virginia Beach respond to the mass shooting. Now she will help the state manage emergencies.

Virginia Beach — The Virginia Beach city official who helped usher the city through major events like the mass shooting that killed 12 people is moving on to work for the governor.

The city’s emergency manager, Erin Sutton, began her new role on Monday as a chief deputy at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. In the state’s history, Sutton is only the second woman to become chief deputy for VDEM, according to the department. She is also the first woman to transition into the role from a local government.

She served as Virginia Beach’s emergency manager since 2014. During that time, Sutton has helped the city wade through many natural disasters and some of the city’s most difficult moments. She was a key figure in leading the city’s response to hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach that killed 12 and severely wounded four.

She also helped the city manage the more than 35,000 people who flooded the city during the Something in The Water music festival. The first day of the 3-day festival in 2019 had to be canceled after a nasty storm rolled in.

“Erin’s expertise and collaborative approach helped us advance in all areas of emergency management, from strategic planning and logistics to operations and reporting,” City Manager Patrick Duhaney said. “Her leadership during some of our most difficult events as well as her ability to effectively bring stakeholders together made her a natural choice for a statewide appointment. As much as we hated to see her go, we certainly understood why she was selected.”

During a September council meeting, Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said Sutton has been a blessing to the city.

“You have made us a safe city," Dyer told Sutton after she made a presentation to the council. "Your dedication and professionalism is beyond belief.”

Julie Hill, Virginia Beach’s spokesperson, said the city is currently under a hiring freeze and Duhaney has not decided who will replace Sutton. In the meantime, Deputy City Manager Steve Cover will take the lead if the city experiences any major events, and Kim Tempesco, a senior emergency planner, will oversee day-to-day operations for the Department of Emergency Management.

Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com