[2][3] Previously, Ward served in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the Regional Administrator for Region IX (which serves AZ, CA, Guam, HI, NV, CNMI, RMI, FSM and American Samoa) from 2006 until 2014.

[6] Before joining FEMA, Ward was Chief of the Disaster Assistance Branch and Deputy State Coordinating Officer for Cal OES.

In this role, she oversaw FEMA's response and recovery operations for Hurricane Katrina.

She also served in various senior management positions in more than 20 disasters, including the earthquake in Hawaii, and the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in California in 2006.

In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Ward as the Director of Cal OES.