About PDC


Reduce disaster risk.
Step into a safer world.

  • Flood - Natchez, MS--LA Region, United States

    11 minutes ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 5.6 - 15 km NW of Melipilla, Chile

    7 hours ago WATCH

  • Volcano - Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

    35 minutes ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Sangay, Ecuador

    1 hour ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Popocatepetl, Mexico

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Sabancaya, Peru

    1 hour ago ADVISORY

  • Severe Weather - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    1 hour ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Phoenix--Mesa, AZ Region, United States

    2 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Dukono, Indonesia

    2 hours ago WATCH

  • Floods - Southwest Cameroon

    2 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Storms - Peru

    2 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Ibu, Indonesia

    2 hours ago WATCH

  • Severe Weather - Binjai City, North Sumatra, Indonesia

    2 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Air Quality - Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

    2 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Winter Storm - Southwestern, United States

    3 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Semeru, Indonesia

    3 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Serang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia

    3 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Volcano - Lewotolo, Indonesia

    3 hours ago WATCH

  • Wildfire - N of Salavan, Saravan, Laos

    3 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Earthquake - 5.0 - northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

    3 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Earthquake - 5.0 - northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

    4 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Fuego, Guatemala

    4 hours ago WARNING

  • Winter Storm - Western, United States

    4 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Amazon Basin, South America

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Tecuala, Nayarit, Mexico

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Okavango Basin, Angola

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Canavieiras, Bahia, Brazil

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Parnaiba Basin, NE of Parnaiba River, Brazil

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Colorado Basin, Salado and Colorado Rivers, Argentina

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Remanso, Northeast Brazil

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of McMinns Lagoon, Northern Territory, Australia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of McMinns Lagoon, Northern Territory, Australia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Bengawan Solo Basin, Indonesia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hari Basin, Indonesia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Adelaide River, Northern Territory and Western Australia, Australia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Mekong Basin, Cambodia and Vietnam

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Cauvery Basin, Sri Lanka

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Amur Basin, W of Ussuri River, China and Russia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Abhe Bad Basin, Eastern Africa

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Irrawaddy Basin, Myanmar

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Southern Asia and Western Asia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Western Asia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ural Basin, Russia and Kazakhstan

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - N of Turkmenbasy, Balkan, Turkmenistan

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Rukwa Basin, S of Rungwa River, Tanzania and Zambia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ogooue Basin, Middle Africa

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Jubba Basin, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Suwanosejima, Japan

    5 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Limpopo Basin, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Tamale, Northern, Ghana

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Rosso, Trarza, Mauritania

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Abhe Bad Basin, Eastern Africa

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Benin City, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo, Nigeria

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Cuanza Basin, Angola

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Santa Maria, Guatemala

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Marathon, Ontario, Canada

    5 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Snowfall - Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Winter Storm - Northern Rockies and Plains, United States

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Freezing Rain - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Reventador, Ecuador

    5 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - San Diego, CA Region, United States

    6 hours ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 6.5 - 40 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - San Miguel, El Salvador

    8 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Villarrica, Chile

    8 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Huai He Basin, N of Huai He River, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Storms - Northern Mexico

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Floods - Central Bolivia

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Bolivia

    8 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Air Quality - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    8 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Beardstown, IL Region, United States

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Storms - Brazil

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hilmar-Irwin, CA Region, United States

    9 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Camden, AR Region, United States

    9 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Aira, Japan

    9 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - SE of Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada

    9 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Storms - India

    9 hours ago WARNING

  • Winter Storm - Alaska, United States

    9 hours ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - NW of Muang Phônsavan, Xiangkhoang, Laos

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - N of Salavan, Saravan, Laos

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SW of Loikaw, Kayah State, Myanmar

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - E of Lamam, Xekong, Laos

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - NE of Kaihua, Yunnan, China

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Landslides - Southern Malawi

    14 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Volcano - Sheveluch, Russia

    10 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Floods - Northern Ceará, Brazil

    14 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Landslides - Northern Ceará, Brazil

    14 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Severe Weather - Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand

    10 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Earthquake - 5.2 - 55 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan

    23 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Zambezi Basin, Middle Africa, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Winter Storm - Upper Midwestern, United States

    14 hours ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - NW of Sainyabuli, Xaignabouri, Laos

    15 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Flood - N of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Daan, Jilin, China

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Araguari Basin, NW of Araguari River, Brazil and French Guiana

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Singkawang, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Malacca, Melaka, Malaysia

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Kerema, Gulf, Papua New Guinea

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

    18 hours ago WARNING

  • Floods - Northwestern England

    19 hours ago WARNING

  • Floods - Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom

    19 hours ago WARNING

  • Storms - Kenya

    20 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Ebeko, Russia

    21 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Wildfire - N of Muang Phônsavan, Xiangkhoang, Laos

    21 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - E of Nyaunglebin, Pegu, Myanmar

    21 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Earthquake - 5.5 - 10 km SE of Quepos, Costa Rica

    23 hours ago WATCH

  • Drinking Water - E of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada

    1 day ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Congo Basin, Middle Africa and Eastern Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - N of Pedro Luro, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - N of Merauke, Papua, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Paraiso, Tabasco, Mexico

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Tocantins Basin, Tocantins and Araguaia Rivers, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Cameta, Pará, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Sao Luis, Maranhão and Pará, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Parana Basin, South America

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Ouyen, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Mahakam Basin, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Windorah, Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Vanimo, Sandaun, Papua New Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Kapuas Basin, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Central Asia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Popondetta, Oro, Papua New Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Pannawonica, Western Australia, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Kotabumi, Lampung and Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Karumba, Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Indus Basin, India and Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Yancheng, East China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Karachi, Sind, Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hai He Basin, Ziya, Daqing He and Wei Rivers, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Brahmaputra Basin, Eastern Asia and Southern Asia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Pakchan Basin, S of Pakchan River, Myanmar and Thailand

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Aksu, Xinjiang Uygur, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Telangana, India

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Qiantang Jiang Basin, China and Taiwan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chao Phraya Basin, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Orange Basin, Namibia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Karachi, Baluchistan and Sind, Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, India

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Shieli, Qyzylorda, Kazakhstan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Irrawaddy Basin, Bangladesh and Myanmar

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ganges Basin, India and Bangladesh

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Iran and Iraq

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chad Basin, Middle Africa and Western Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Szekszard, Tolna, Hungary

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Saudi Arabia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Tuban Basin, Yemen

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hingol Basin, NE of Hingol River, Iran and Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Danube Basin, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Volga Basin, Russia, Kazakhstan and Caspian Sea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Tillaberi, Tillabéry, Niger

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Eastern Africa, Middle Africa and Northern Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Okavango Basin, Middle Africa, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Niger Basin, Nigeria

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - N of Lamu, Lamu, Kenya

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Tsiribihina Basin, Madagascar

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Incomati Basin, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Egypt

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Quelimane, Zambezia, Mozambique

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Adigrat, Tigray, Ethiopia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Congo Basin, Tanzania

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Pungwe Basin, Mozambique and Zimbabwe

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ruvuma Basin, Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, SW of Atbara River, Eritrea and Sudan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Orange Basin, Southern Africa

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 6.8 - 8 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador

    3 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - South Korea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Avalanches - Mammoth, California

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Storms - Eastern Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Storms - Peninsular Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Extreme Heat - Vietnam

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Cotopaxi, Ecuador

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Karangetang, Indonesia

    3 days ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Krakatau, Indonesia

    3 days ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Merapi, Indonesia

    4 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - High Plains United States

    5 days ago WARNING

  • Heavy Snow - Central Asia

    5 days ago WARNING

  • Extreme Heat - Southwestern Africa

    5 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Uruguay

    5 days ago WARNING

  • Health - W of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada

    5 days ago ADVISORY

  • Drought - Southwestern United States

    6 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Northwestern United States

    6 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Tuvalu

    6 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Djibouti

    1 week ago WARNING

  • Cholera - Haiti

    3 months ago WARNING

  • Marburg Virus Disease - Equatorial Guinea

    1 month ago WARNING

  • Cholera - Mozambique

    3 weeks ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Africa

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Middle East

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - North America

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Asia Pacific

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Latin America/Caribbean

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Europe

    11 months ago WARNING

  • Ebola Virus - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    6 months ago WARNING

  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Hawaii

    11 months ago WARNING

Working together to create a Safer World

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global) is an applied research center managed by the University of Hawaii that supports the most demanding governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide in helping to create a safer, more disaster resilient world. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped our partners enhance disaster management capacity, save lives, and reduce disaster losses through the application of our advanced tools and technologies, evidence-based research, and analytical information.

 

The Center’s DisasterAWARE platform is used by tens of thousands of disaster management professionals—from the senior-level decision maker to the operational practitioner. It provides global multi-hazard early warning, hazard monitoring, and risk intelligence to support rapid and effective disaster response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. DisasterAWARE includes the highest resolution all-hazards impact models, advanced analytical reports, and augmented information through artificial intelligence. The system features the largest, scientifically-vetted big data catalog for disaster management decision making in the world—derived in part from PDC’s unique National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment as well as its Global Risk and Vulnerability data.

 

DisasterAWARE provides near real-time analytics about impacts to population, capital, and key infrastructure for multiple hazards, calculating likely humanitarian needs down to a scale of 30 x 30 meters. DisasterAWARE is free to disaster management practitioners and the humanitarian assistance community at https://disasteraware.pdc.org.

 

 Customized versions of DisasterAWARE have been deployed by PDC in locations around the world and are used operationally by national and regional disaster management agencies for all aspects of disaster management.

 

PDC’s mobile app, Disaster Alert, is also free and designed for use by the public as well as disaster managers on-the-go. It offers customizable early warning alerts for any type of natural hazard in any location around the globe. Visit https://disasteralert.pdc.org.

 

In addition to offering advanced decision support technology, PDC is pioneering the scientific application of artificial intelligence for disaster risk reduction through its AI for Humanity™ program. Learn more about these innovations at www.pdc.org/aiforhumanity.
The Center also provides specialized research on a range of topics ranging such as national fragility, national disaster preparedness, women, peace and security, and climate change. PDC also supports disaster preparedness training and exercises.

A brief history of PDC

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Iniki to the Hawaiian Islands in 1992, Pacific Disaster Center was conceived as a center to improve systems of communication and technology for disaster prevention at home and beyond. PDC now serves a global audience, helping to increase disaster management capacity and embolden more effective decisions, policies, and actions for a safer world.

Our Team

Executive Management

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Ray Shirkhodai is responsible for PDC’s strategic development, market and partnership expansion, and all aspects of the enterprise operation. Serving in information management and senior leadership roles since 1991, Ray first joined PDC in 2002 as the Chief Information Officer before his selection for Executive Director in 2007. During his tenure at PDC, Ray architected PDC’s flagship DisasterAWARE® risk intelligence platform and mobile applications, developed and oversaw strategies for PDC’s expansion into the global hazard and risk reduction markets, and increased the Center’s competitive project revenues, augmenting PDC’s base research and operating budgets. Ray has led the Center’s support of major international disaster relief operations. He has served as a chief technology advisor to regional and national disaster management offices around the world. Ray has written for numerous United Nations publications on analytical software design for risk reduction. He has been an invited keynote speaker, lecturer and participant at many international events focused on technologies for risk reduction and resilience. Ray is on the advisory board of the University of Hawaii Maui College Applied Business and Information Technology (ABIT) program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from George Mason University followed by graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence at George Mason University.

Ray Shirkhodai

Executive Director

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Chris Chiesa has more than 30 years of experience developing and leading enterprise applications of geospatial information technologies and has been actively involved in disaster management activities for the past two decades. He directs international deployments of PDC’s disaster management decision support DisasterAWARE® platform. Chris has extensive programmatic and institutional experience in the Asia Pacific region. His work has also taken him to Europe, Central and South America, and Africa. In 2005, Chris received Esri’s prestigious Special Achievements in GIS Award in recognition of the Center’s support to the Indian Ocean tsunami response. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BSME, MSNR) and the University of Arizona (MBA).

Chris Chiesa, MS, MBA

Deputy Executive Director

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Dr. Joseph Green is an expert in the practical application of risk information for humanitarian assistance and resilience-building initiatives worldwide. His analytical work spans more than two decades, with specialized focus on the examination of the intersection between social vulnerability, health outcomes, and disaster resilience. Joseph earned his PhD in epidemiology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to earning his PhD, Joseph earned a master’s degree in medical geography from the University of South Florida and worked as a research fellow at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Joseph Green, PhD

Director of Applied Science

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Dr. Erin Hughey is the Director of Global Operation for the Pacific Disaster Center. A recognized leader in global disaster management and disaster risk reduction, Dr. Hughey developed the only operationalized approach to the United Nations Sendai Framework for Action. Known as the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA), this program has been implemented by more than 20 countries worldwide and aids national, regional and international disaster risk reduction initiatives. With a PhD in geography, Dr. Hughey has dedicated her life’s work to the innovation and the application of new science and technology for disaster management—empowering practitioners and senior leadership alike with the tools and information needed to support data-driven decision making.

Erin Hughey, PhD

Director of Global Operations

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Cassie Stelow brings with her more than 10 years of experience in the development and execution of enterprise-wide IT solutions and strategies. She oversees PDC’s data management solutions and was the key architect for transforming the organization’s data services into a single source. Cassie is responsible for the implementation of data governance, adherence to IT standards and the institutionalization of enterprise tools. She holds a Master of Science in Geospatial Information Science and Technology from North Carolina State University.

Cassie Stelow, MS

Acting Director of Information Technology

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Scott Okada is responsible for PDC’s fiscal planning and management in all areas of budgeting, financial analysis, procurement, and business information technology applications. He has experience and training as a financial forecaster, auditor, tax-compliance officer, and report compiler for national and governmental organizations. His experience also includes high-level oversight of human resources management and loss prevention, as well as cash management and cost control functions. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Scott Okada, BBA, MBA

Director of Finance & Administration

Other Staff

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Bear (Bernd) McConnell

Senior Advisor

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Steve Recca has held several security policy positions with the State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He was Director of the University of Colorado Springs Center for Homeland Security where he managed research programs in civil security, defense-related topics, as well as institutional and government agency collaborative relationships. He is on the Editorial Review Board of four peer-reviewed journals and is a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics for academic institutions across the United States. Steve holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Steve Recca

Humanitarian Assistance Programs Senior Advisor

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