Florida Tech to Host Conference on Global Preparedness, Feature International Speakers, Dec. 8-10

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology will host the third annual Conference on Global Preparedness Dec. 8-10 at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Fla. The event will draw more than 30 distinguished speakers who are leaders in the areas of disaster preparedness and response, national and international security, and humanitarian and disaster relief logistics.

The conference’s presentations will provide a look at several key areas that affect global preparedness. Presenters will show how these areas interconnect to create the challenges we face as a world community and offer solutions to protect assets and human lives.

Featured will be distinguished speakers from the government, military, business, industry, non-profits, universities and professional organizations. The keynote speaker is Kay Goss, director of Emergency Management and Crisis Communications at SRA International. Other major speakers include Major General William H. Etter, director, Domestic Operations, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va.; and Brigadier General Michelle D. Johnson, director, Strategy, Policy, Programs and Logistics, United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Ill.

Also speaking are senior leaders in the field of “Emergency Response and Interoperability” such as Yuki N. Karakawa, chairman of the Home Islands Security Committee, an activity of the Karakawa Foundation; Norman A. Willox Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Critical Information Network (CiNet); and James W. Satterfield, president and chief operating officer of Firestorm Solutions, LLC.

Speakers presenting under the heading, “Technology: Sustainable to Resilient,” include Clifford R. Bragdon, vice president for Strategic Initiatives and dean for Continuing Education at Florida Tech; Louis A. Kratz, vice president and managing director, Logistics and Sustainment, Lockheed Martin Corp.; Tony Bardo, assistant vice president of Government Solutions at Hughes; Will Corry, vice president international for Lightstep Technologies; and Fred Maxik, founder and chief scientific officer of Lighting Science Group.

“Cybersecurity and Information Assurance” speakers include Terry Gillett, founder and president of Raytheon SI Government Solutions; Ronda Henning, senior scientist for Security and Privacy at Harris Corp.; and Richard Ford, Florida Tech professor and director of the university’s Harris Institute for Assured Information. Representing “Human Factors” will be Michael Workman, associate professor in Florida Tech’s Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, and Michael D. McDonald, director of the National Sustainable Security Infrastructure Pandemic Initiative and chief architect of the U.S. Resilience System.

Featured in “The Economy and Preparedness” session are A. Martin Erim, attorney and chairman of Americans for Strong National Security, and Rhonda Phillips, immediate past chair of the American Planning Association’s Economic Development Division.

“This unique conference is really about how you prepare for and respond to natural and manmade disasters as well as create a smart, sustainable and resilient infrastructure,” said Bragdon, conference chairman. “In essence, we are looking at disaster preparedness in order to achieve economic resilience. This requires the involvement of government, military, private industry, not-for-profits, academia and really anyone who has an interest in making the world safer, stronger and more economically viable.”

A welcome reception on Monday evening, a conference reception on Tuesday evening, luncheons and breakfasts are also included. Conference fees are $595 for businesses and $395 for government and non-profits. Exhibitor packages and sponsorships are also available.

For conference registration information, visit: http://411.fit.edu/cgp or contact Susan Eaton at (321) 674-8342.