National Preparedness Conference Accomplishes Mission

More than two dozen top leaders in disaster preparedness and response, national and international security, and humanitarian and disaster relief logistics
met in Melbourne for Florida Tech’s second annual Conference on National Preparedness.

The event, held Dec. 8 and 9 at the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Hotel, provided an in-depth look at technologies and integrated strategies on
national preparedness. Session topics included national and international safety and security, command and control, global preparedness, cyber security and
more.

“This unique conference integrated man-made and natural disaster issues, problems and practical solutions,” said Cliff Bragdon, conference chairman.

Keynote speakers included Capt. Wayne Brown, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Randel Zeller, Department of Homeland Security; Steven Cooper, former
chief intelligence officer for the Department of Homeland Security and the White House; Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Yuki
Karakawa, International Association of Emergency Managers; and Major General Douglas Burnett, adjutant general of Florida, National Guard Bureau.

The conference offered a hands-on simulation that combined a Category 4 hurricane with a terrorism event simultaneously occurring at a state capital.

Attendees left with conference proceedings, including a DVD and a complimentary copy of Bragdon’s new book, Transportation Security.