About PDC
Reduce disaster risk.
Step into a safer world.
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Flood - Trenton, FL Region, United States
11 minutes ago WARNING
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Volcano - Krakatau, Indonesia
39 minutes ago WARNING
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Volcano - Aira, Japan
1 hour ago WARNING
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Volcano - Dukono, Indonesia
2 hours ago WATCH
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Winter Storm - South Island, New Zealand
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Fuego, Guatemala
2 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - South Australia
2 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - New South Wales, Australia
2 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Vietnam
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Sangay, Ecuador
2 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Philippines
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Semeru, Indonesia
2 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - South Korea
2 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Southeastern China
2 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Northern Japan
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia
2 hours ago WARNING
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Landslides - Northern Japan
2 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Southern Norway
19 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Reventador, Ecuador
3 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Hong Kong
3 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Nepal
3 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Romania
3 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Assam, India
3 hours ago WARNING
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Drought - Kiribati
3 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Northern Italy
3 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Estonia
3 hours ago WARNING
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Earthquake - 5.4 - 44 km W of Hengchun, Taiwan
9 hours ago ADVISORY
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Potential Tropical Cyclone - Two
4 hours ago WARNING
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Tropical Cyclone - Celia
4 hours ago INFORMATION
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Earthquake - 5.9 - 46 km SW of Khōst, Afghanistan
5 days ago WARNING
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Floods - Sylhet, Bangladesh
4 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - South Korea
4 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Peninsular Malaysia
4 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Northern Vietnam
4 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Cambodia
4 hours ago WARNING
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Wildfire - SE of Lucapa, Lunda Norte - Angola
5 hours ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NW of Lucapa, Lunda Norte - Angola
5 hours ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - SE of Lucapa, Lunda Norte - Angola
5 hours ago INFORMATION
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Volcano - Sabancaya, Peru
5 hours ago WARNING
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Wildfire - S of McGrath, Alaska - United States
5 hours ago ADVISORY
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Earthquake - 5.0 - 47 km NNW of Naisano Dua, Indonesia
8 hours ago ADVISORY
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Earthquake - 5.0 - 50 km SSW of Donggang, Taiwan
10 hours ago ADVISORY
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Winter Storm - Cushamen Range, Argentina
10 hours ago WARNING
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Landslides - San Miguelito, Panama
10 hours ago WARNING
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Floods, Panama Oeste, Panama
10 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Guatemala
11 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Southeastern Guatemala
11 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Yukon, Canada
11 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Suriname
11 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Inland and Southern Guyana
11 hours ago WARNING
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landslides - Pemalang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
14 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia
14 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia
14 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Southeastern Germany
14 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
14 hours ago WARNING
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Storms - Southwestern Netherlands
14 hours ago INFORMATION
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Floods - Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
14 hours ago WARNING
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Monkeypox - United Kingdom
2 days ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Southern Italy
19 hours ago WARNING
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Floods - Sochi, Russia
20 hours ago INFORMATION
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Landslides - Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
20 hours ago INFORMATION
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Floods - Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
20 hours ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NE of Lucapa, Lunda Norte - Angola
2 days ago WATCH
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Extreme Heat - Southwest - Slovenia
23 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Serbia
23 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Lithuania
23 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Latvia
23 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Hungary
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Croatia
1 day ago WARNING
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Storms - Southern India
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 day ago WARNING
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Wildfire - NW of Montpelier, Idaho - United States
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Austria
1 day ago WARNING
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Storms - Eastern India
1 day ago WARNING
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Drought - Eastern Africa
5 days ago WARNING
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Flood - International Falls, MN Region, United States
1 day ago WARNING
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Storms - Southern Mexico
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Northern Mexico
1 day ago WARNING
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Volcano - Suwanosejima, Japan
1 day ago ADVISORY
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Landslides - Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia
1 day ago WARNING
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Floods - Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia
1 day ago WARNING
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Floods - Corozal and Orange Walk, Belize
1 day ago WARNING
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Floods - Baubau City, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
1 day ago INFORMATION
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Floods - Majene Regency, West Sulawesi, Indonesia
1 day ago INFORMATION
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Storms - Costa Rica
1 day ago WARNING
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Storms - Guyana
1 day ago WARNING
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Floods - Queensland, Australia
1 day ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Asia Pacific
2 months ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Europe
2 months ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Africa
2 months ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Middle East
2 months ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Latin America/Caribbean
2 months ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - North America
2 months ago WARNING
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Earthquake - 5.6 - 30 km NE of Kīsh, Iran
3 days ago WARNING
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Volcano - Chikurachki, Russia
4 days ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Santa Maria, Guatemala
4 days ago WARNING
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Storms - Manitoba, Canada
4 days ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Poland
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Southwestern United States
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Southern United States
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Southeast United States
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Hawaii, United States
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Federated States of Micronesia
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - US Virgin Islands
5 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Central Asia
6 days ago WARNING
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Hawaii
2 months ago WARNING
Working together to create a Safer World
For more than 20 years, Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has supported the most demanding government customers and nonprofits worldwide, sharing in the mission to save lives and reduce disaster risk. From the senior level to the operational practitioner—we support disaster management decision makers with advanced science, technology, tools, and information to reduce disaster risk and create a safer, more disaster resilient world.
As an applied research center managed by the University of Hawaii, we are continuously developing new technologies and best practices to help our many global partners effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. We work side by side with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and humanitarian relief organizations to conduct baseline risk and national disaster preparedness assessments, create mitigation strategies, support training and exercises, and to implement our powerful DisasterAWARE® technology.
DisasterAWARE features a highly advanced all-hazards global exposure model that is unlike any hazard model available today. Developed by PDC to enable anticipatory action during large-scale hazard events, DisasterAWARE provides near real-time analytics about impacts to population, capital, and key infrastructure exposure for multiple hazards, as well as specific humanitarian needs down to a scale of 30 x 30 meters. The system also includes global early warning, hazard monitoring, and situational awareness for all types of natural and manmade hazards. 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 phases of disaster management.
PDC’s free mobile app, Disaster Alert, is used by the public as well as disaster managers on-the-go and offers customizable early warning alerts for any type of natural hazard in any location around the globe. The app has had more than 2 million downloads to date and is free for download on the Play Store and App Store. It can also be accessed online at 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 topics ranging from national fragility and disaster preparedness, to climate change, to women, peace and security. It partners with governments worldwide and others to deliver applications, provide disaster preparedness training, share best practices, and support exercises. For more, visit www.pdc.org.

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.

PDC briefs President of Panama on findings of NDPBA report

Philippines get assistance with Super Typhoon following successful launch of PhilAWARE

PDC helps Thailand with new early warning and hazard monitoring technologies

Red Cross and PDC go beyond response to anticipate disaster impacts

NASA partners with PDC to develop groundbreaking global flood early warning system

Indonesia and ASEAN usher in a new era of disaster readiness, response, and risk reduction

Nobel Laureate World Food Programme and PDC join forces in disaster preparedness and response

PDC data and technology aid global fight against COVID-19

PDC unveils beta version of customized disaster management software for the Philippines

Lao PDR and PDC launch early warning system program with signed agreement ceremony

NASA and Pacific Disaster Center to develop new life-saving technologies

Exercise in Southeast Asia brings together 18 countries

PDC and ASEAN Member States kick-off management program

PDC featured speaker at AI conference

Disaster preparedness assessments started in eight countries

Kick off meeting held to bring early warning support to Myanmar

SmartAlert™ enhances DisasterAWARE

PDC supports 10 major disaster exercises

Winter Olympics rely on PDC for public safety

Preparedness assessments finished for four countries

PDC completes risk evaluation for ASEAN

PDC and AHA Centre sign Memorandum of Intent

PDC-FEMA team up during record-breaking Atlantic Hurricanes

PDC aids response to 63 major hazards globally

PDC aids response to Major Hurricane Matthew

PDC and Nepal partner on NepalAWARE

DisasterAWARE® 6.0 greatly expands capabilties

PDC supports public safety during 2016 Olympics

PDC assists with analysis of Zika virus epidemic

DisasterAWARE® is on the horizon for the Philippines

PDC aids response for 61 major hazards globally

ASEAN chooses PDC for training assessment

PDC expands collaboration with APEC

PDC aids Nepal responders after deadly M7.8 quake

PDC supports 11 major exercises globally

PDC begins NDPBA with four more countries

Vietnam and PDC launch VinAWARE

PDC releases new BioServ technology

Nepal exercises preparedness with PDC

PDC supports response to global hazards

PDC supports international preparedness exercises

Indonesia and PDC launch InAWARE

United Nations sponsors PDC as guest speaker

PDC launches NDPBA program

PDC presents DisasterAWARE® at APEC workshop

ASEAN invites PDC to present

PDC-Indonesia partner on InAWARE

PDC-Vietnam partner on VinAWARE

PDC presents at UNOCHA Workshop

PDC activates real-time response support

PDC supports Hurricane Sandy with real-time analysis

PDC named project manager for International Charter

PDC-AHA Centre launch DMRS

PDC supports response to global disasters

The Bahamas and PDC partner on preparedness

PDC assists with Cholera outbreak in Haiti

PDC supports relief workers worldwide

PDC supports response to catastrophic quake in Haiti

PDC launches Disaster Alert mobile app for the public

PDC assists with global catastrophes

PDC-Vietnam begin flood modeling and early warning project

PDC continues longstanding collaboration with ASEAN

PDC co-chairs conference on APEC preparedness

PDC supports 2008 Olympics safety

PDC supports response to disasters globally

PDC provides support after M8.4 earthquake strikes Indonesia

PDC develops Vietnam decision support system prototype

University of Hawai‘i becomes PDC’s new managing partner

PDC supports response for numerous hazards

PDC hosts worldwide natural disaster policy forum

Senator Inouye speaks about PDC’s global impact

PDC begins Early Warning Technology project with Thailand

PDC assesses Risk and Vulnerability throughout Pacific Islands

PDC-ASEAN collaborate on new disaster information initiative

PDC supports Hurricane Katrina response and relief

PDC develops Tsunami Awareness Kit for Pacific Island Nations

PDC launches Asia Pacific Natural Hazards Information Network

PDC assists after Great Sumatra Eathquake / Indian Ocean Tsunami

PDC releases new DisasterAWARE® online Atlas

PDC releases new DisasterAWARE® system

PDC recognized as a global information provider
PDC launches first web-enabled application

PDC co-sponsors international conference

PDC expands support to Pacific Nations

New PDC technology widely applauded

Senator Inouye provides opening remarks

Development of PDC begins

U.S. Congress approves Pacific Disaster Center

Pacific Disaster Center conceived following Iniki

Hurricane Iniki devastates Hawaiian Island of Kauai
Our Team
Executive Management
Ray Shirkhodai
Executive Director
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
Joseph Green, PhD
Director of Applied Science
Erin Hughey, PhD
Director of Global Operations
Cassie Stelow, MS
Acting Director of Information Technology
Scott Okada, BBA, MBA
Director of Finance & Administration
Other Staff
Bear (Bernd) McConnell
Senior Advisor
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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