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)
About PDC
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 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 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
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, MS
Director of Information Technology
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
Twenty years after the world’s deadliest tsunami—what have we learned and are we safer?
What happened and why it matters today Two decades have passed since one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history claimed the lives...
Cross-border exercise bolsters Balkans regional disaster preparedness
The Balkans Region—A groundbreaking, dual-location Tabletop Exercise (TTX) in Tirana, Albania, and Pristina, Kosovo, took place in partnership with Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) on October 22–23, 2024. A first of its kind, the innovative exercise simulated a real-time multinational response to a severe winter storm
2004 Projects Showcase
Pacific Disaster Center’s scientific partnerships and innovations supported countries worldwide in building safer, more resilient communities.
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