Stephen Flynn
Professor of Political Science
Founding Co-Director, George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security
Northeastern University

Dr. Stephen Flynn is a Professor of Political Science and the Founding Co-Director of the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security at Northeastern University. Before arriving at Northeastern in November 2011, he served as President of the Center for National Policy and spent a decade as a senior fellow for National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Flynn served in the Coast Guard on active duty for 20 years, including two tours as commanding officer at sea. He is the author of The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation (Random House, 2007), and America the Vulnerable (HarperCollins 2004). He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Wharton School’s Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the University of Pennsylvania and serves as a member of the bipartisan National Security Preparedness Group, co-chaired by former 9/11 commissioners, Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton. Flynn holds the M.A.L.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He is the principal for Stephen E. Flynn Associates LLC, where he provides independent advisory services on improving enterprise resiliency and critical infrastructure protection, and transportation and maritime security. He also serves on the Board of Directors for PureSafe Water Systems.

Richard Devylder
Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation

In July 2010, President Obama appointed Richard Devylder as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s first Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation. Richard advises the department’s efforts to develop and execute effective policy strategies to ensure all modes of transportation are accessible and integrated to meet the diverse functional needs of the public.

Richard served as Special Advisor to the Secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency from January 2008 thru June 2010, focusing on the access and functional needs of people with disabilities, in disasters. Richard provided guidance in reviewing and reshaping emergency management systems, policies and practices in communicating, evacuating and sheltering Californian’s with disabilities. As Deputy Director for the California Department of Rehabilitation from August 2003 thru January 2008, Richard was responsible for the oversight of four departmental divisions. From 2001-2003, Richard served as Chairman of the State Independent Living Council; and as the Executive Director of the Dayle McIntosh Center from September 2000 thru August 2003.

Dr. James Kendra
Associate Professor, School of Public Policy & Administration
Director of Disaster Research Center
University of Delware

Dr. James Kendra is an associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and Director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. Previously he was coordinator of the Emergency Administration and Planning Program in the Department of Public Administration at the University of North Texas.

His research interests focus on individual and organizational responses to risk, improvisation and creativity during crisis, post-disaster shelter and housing, and planning for behavioral health services. Projects have included research on the reestablishment of New York City’s emergency operations center after the 9/11 attacks, a major study of the waterborne evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11, research on the social impacts of the Indian Ocean tsunami, and research on the organization of disaster behavioral health services.

Dr. Kendra has participated in several quick response disaster reconnaissance trips, including the 2001 World Trade Center attacks, 2003 Midwest tornadoes, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and Hurricane Ike in 2008, as well as documenting maritime relief efforts in the US following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He has been involved in several emergency planning and exercise efforts, and holds the Certified Emergency Manager credential from the International Association of Emergency Managers. His doctoral degree is in geography from Rutgers University.

William Brockmann (Brock) Long
Former Director of Alabama's Emergency Managment Agency

William Brockmann (Brock) Long, the former Director of Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency, has more than 12 years of experience working with local, state, and federal governments in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Mr. Long has served as a state level all hazards planner, FEMA regional Hurricane Program Manager, and State Director. He specializes in emergency planning, and has subject matter expertise in hurricane evacuation,  school and University safety, and preparedness. Currently, Mr. Long leads Hagerty’s state and local practice. He provides strategic direction and leadership for all state and local programs, works with prospective clients to understand challenges and identify potential solutions, offers executive support and subject matter expertise for select projects, and continues to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the emergency management community.  In this capacity, Mr. Long also serves as the Private Sector Mitigation Program Chair to the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).  Previously, Mr. Long was a National Hurricane Planner for FEMA Region IV, and a planner for the State of Georgia. Mr. Long served on the FEMA National Advisory Committee, advising the sub-committee for Response and Recovery. His opinion has been sought by numerous media outlets including CNN, Fox, the Associated Press, and the Weather Channel. He also has several publications including: The Encyclopedia of Terrorism, “School Site Analysis” article entry 2001, Combs et al., The School Discipline Advisor, “A contract to live and let learn” and School Safety Essentials: Performing Daily Safety Sweeps 2002, Long and Dorn.

Irwin Redlener, M.D.
Director, National Center for Disease Preparedness
Clinical Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University
President and Co-Founder, Children's Health Fund

Irwin Redlener, M.D. is Professor of Clinical Public Health and Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.  Dr. Redlener speaks and writes extensively on disaster preparedness policies, pandemic influenza, the threat  of terrorism in the U.S., the impact and consequences of major natural disasters and related issues.  Throughout his career he has worked on various projects in Honduras, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Dr. Redlener, a pediatrician, has worked extensively in the Gulf Region following hurricane Katrina where he helped establish ongoing medical and public health programs.  He also organized medical response teams in the immediate aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11, as well as following Hurricane Andrew in south Florida, as well as international disaster management leadership experience. He is the author of Americans At Risk: Why We Are Not Prepared For Megadisasters and What We Can Do Now, published in August 2006 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Dr. Redlener is also president and co-founder of the Children's Health Fund and has expertise in health care systems, crisis response and public policy with respect to access to health care for underserved populations, particularly children. Dr. Redlener served as one of the ten members of the congressionally-established National Commission on Children and Disasters.

Marcie Roth
Senior Advisor to Administrator Fugate
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Marcie Roth was appointed by President Obama to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington, DC in June 2009. She serves as Senior Advisor to Administrator Fugate and Director of the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, leading the Agency’s commitment to integrate the access and functional needs of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of whole community emergency and disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

Ms. Roth served as a senior member of the Obama for America - Disability Policy Committee during the 2007-2008 presidential campaign and served on President Obama’s Justice and Civil Rights Transition Team.  Ms. Roth joined FEMA after serving as President and CEO of Global Disability Solutions Group, leading national and international initiatives with a focus on emergency management and disability issues. Over the past 20 years, she has held leadership positions with the National Coalition for Disability Rights, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, National Council on Independent Living and TASH. She is known for her work in developing and managing effective coalitions to advance public policy initiatives, and is frequently consulted as an expert on strategic approaches that fully integrate preparedness, response and recovery solutions.  Ms. Roth led private sector response to the additional needs of survivors with disabilities during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and she was commended by the White House for her efforts on behalf of New Yorkers with disabilities in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Appointed by her Governor as Chairperson of the Maryland Commission on Disabilities, Ms. Roth previously served as the Governor appointed Chair of the Connecticut and Maryland Statewide Independent Living Councils.

In addition to her own personal experience as a person with a disability, Ms. Roth is the parent of two young adults with disabilities, both living independent and successful lives. She lives outside Washington, DC.