The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) was again selected to provide emergency management training and exercises for the renowned Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, MD. A six-member instructional team, led by Executive Programs Director Rick Comley, developed and delivered a successful, four-day capstone course, “Exercising Emergency Management Executive Policy and Decision-making,” on Sept. 14-17, for the National Emergency Management Executive Academy.

The course focuses on executive-level policy and decision-making through case studies, exercises and senior guest speakers, Comley said. Thirty-three executives attended this year’s course, representing emergency management; state local and federal government; non-governmental organizations, the private sector and one foreign government.

Along with TEEX, the Executive Academy is conducted in collaboration with Harvard University, the University of Hawaii, and the Naval Postgraduate School, which each deliver one course in the series. The program was developed and designed for senior executives, to enable these decision-makers to think and act more strategically. The Academy’s goal is to instill leaders with a deeper understanding of emergency management issues, debates and public policy.

Guest speakers included Rear Adm. Mary Landry, the USCG’s Director of Incident Management and Preparedness; Ed Boyce from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Francisco Sanchez from Harris County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; a senior staffer from the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security; and Bob Kolasky, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of DHS’s Office of Infrastructure Protection.

Members on the delivery team included (pictured l-r) Ronnie Taylor, Tom Panther, Joe Lynch, Rick Comley, Steve Keim and Chris Gable (not pictured). Course development was supported by Matt Sherwood, Vicki Park, Jenny Britton and the TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute Curriculum Team.

About the National Emergency Management Academy
The National Emergency Management Executive Academy was developed and designed for senior executives at the pinnacle of their careers. The Academy is the final phase of FEMA’s Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP). The National Emergency Management Executive Academy is designed to challenge and enhance the talents of emergency management senior executives through critical thinking, visionary strategic planning, negotiation, and conflict resolution applied to complex real-world problems.

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