About PDC

About Us

30 years.
Thousands of hazards.
Millions of lives saved.

Safer
world.

Today, millions around the globe depend on PDC’s cutting-edge tools, technology, and life-saving information. Our products and services include:

DisasterAWARE Pro (our free multi-hazard early warning platform for disaster management professionals)
Disaster Alert (our free web and mobile app for the public and disaster managers who want to stay informed while on the go)
Training and Exercises
Decision Support Dashboards
Advanced Analytical Expertise
Data Services (contact us for more information)

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is a leading scientific innovator of global risk reduction science and technology. As a University of Hawai’i applied science and research center, our work intersects with a variety of government, community, academic, and scientific organizations at home and around the world to build resilience to natural and man-made hazards, assess risk, and enhance the capacity to quickly and accurately anticipate and prepare for new and emerging threats.

Our innovations in multi-hazard early warning systems, predictive analytics, data science, and machine learning provide decision-makers with the powerful tools and insights they need to navigate today’s complex and interconnected risk landscape.

Bringing decades of experience in rapid, multi-dimensional risk analyses across diverse domains, we. can help you identify cross-cutting risks and mitigation strategies to enhance safety and stability in support of:

humanitarian and disaster response (HADR) operations
resource allocation
logistics
training and exercises
public awareness

For more information about PDC, download our PDC fact sheet.

Exercises Supported

Disaster Response Activations

Million Disaster Alert Downloads

Executive and Senior Leadership Team

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

Dr. Erin Hughey is the Deputy Executive Director of Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global). In this role, she directs the application of the Center’s cutting-edge science and technology and leads the innovation of its advanced analytical tools employed by tens of thousands of U.S. and international practitioners worldwide. Hughey’s work focuses on data-driven decision-making and the translation of complex scientific information into actionable insights, supporting rapid risk assessment and providing strategic foresight about new and emerging threats for more informed security and stability operations. Her diverse expertise includes the application of traditional and nontraditional approaches to risk reduction and long-term resilience-building within a variety of geographic settings around the globe as well as Pacific and small island settings.

Hughey holds a PhD in geography with a focus on natural and technological hazards. She has dedicated her life’s work to evidence-based disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance programs designed to mitigate risk, bolster capabilities, and improve adaptability. Her pioneering efforts to operationalize the use of risk information in real-time have garnered international and national awards.

Erin Hughey, PhD

Deputy Executive Director

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

Todd Bosse has more than 20 years of experience implementing disaster management projects and activities. His work has helped solve real-world problems and provided support to humanitarian assistance agencies in times of crisis by applying the latest science and technology for improved decision making in a variety of national and international settings. Collaborating on projects in more than 40 countries on five continents, Todd’s specialty is in bridging the technology sector with practitioners in need, building knowledge and skills through a unique blend of academic, professional, and field-based experiences. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bowling Green State University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.

Todd Bosse, EMBA

Interim Director of Global Operations

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

Director of Information Technology

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

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

Director of Early Warning Systems

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

Latest News

Ecuador teams up with Pacific Disaster Center in its ongoing battle with extreme disasters

Ecuador’s Secretariat for Risk Management, Secretaría de Gestión de Riesgos (SNGR) and Pacific Disaster Center begin their disaster risk reduction partnership while the nation toils in a complex emergency involving a catastrophic oil spill triggered by a landslide in the coastal province of Esmeraldas. The oil spill impacted 11 parishes and more than 500,000 people dependent on potable water in the now contaminated river system.

Apr 30, 2025

Colombia’s data-driven approach to creating safer, more resilient communities

Colombia's latest milestone will help direct national investments and actions to reduce disaster risk and build resilience at the municipal level.

Feb 24, 2025

Scientific tools enhance disaster resilience and readiness in Honduras

New technology, training, and scientific information developed in partnership between Pacific Disaster Center and Honduras, with support from U.S. Southern Command, will help national stakeholders better anticipate potential disasters, quickly mobilize resources, and promote risk-informed decision-making that enhances resilience and readiness.

Feb 10, 2025

VIEW ALL NEWS

2024 Projects Showcase

Pacific Disaster Center’s scientific partnerships and innovations supported countries worldwide in building safer, more resilient communities.

Want to know more about our capabilities or request access to one of our products?

Have a question or need assistance? Please complete the form below for a fast response.

Safer
world.