Edward M. Emmett

Fellow in Energy and Transportation Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Former Harris County Judge

Edward M. Emmett is a Fellow in Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.  Currently, his reaearch efforts are focused on future fuels for the transportation industry, freight mobility, building a resilient global supply chain and understanding the past, present and future role of highways.   
Emmett’s background in transportation policy spans decades.  A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, Judge Emmett served on the commission for three years.

Following his service at the Interstate Commerce Commission, Emmett was president of The National Industrial Transportation League from 1992 until 2003, when he created The Emmett Company, a transportation policy consulting firm.

From 2007 until 2019, Emmett served as the elected County Judge of Harris County, Texas.  In that role he was the chief executive officer of the nation’s third largest county and was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Emmett has received international recognition for his work in transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics Professionals by Logistics Forum.

Currently, Emmett has several key roles in the development of transportation policy.  He chairs the Texas Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Committee and is on numerous transportation related advisory boards.
In addition to his role at the Baker Institute, Emmett is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute, where his focus is on emergency preparedness  and response and community resilience.  As Harris County Judge from 2007 until 2019, Judge Emmett was Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the nation’s third largest county.  His actions in dealing with Hurricane Ike, the floods of Hurricane Harvey and other community disasters garnered national and international recognition.

Emmett attended Bellaire High School. He graduated from Rice University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Master of Public Affairs degree.
Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service Award.