Florida Tech to Host Conference on National Preparedness, Bring Together Roster of Noted Speakers
MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology will host the second annual Conference on National Preparedness Dec. 8-9, 2008, at the Hilton Melbourne
Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Melbourne, Fla. The event will draw more than 25 distinguished speakers who are top leaders in the areas of disaster preparedness
and response, national and international security, and humanitarian and disaster relief logistics.
The conference’s presentations and interactive, hands-on sessions will provide an in-depth look at technologies and integrated strategies on national
preparedness. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including national and international safety and security, command and control, global
preparedness, cyber security and more.
Featured will be distinguished speakers from the government, military, business, industry, non-profits, universities and professional organizations. Among
the keynote speakers are Major General Michael H. Sumrall, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Honorable Jay Cohen, Department of Homeland Security;
Steven Cooper, Former Chief Intelligence Officer for the Department of Homeland Security and the White House; Michael Pawlowski, FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency); Yuki Karakawa, Ambassador, International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM); and Major General Douglas Burnett, adjutant general
of Florida, National Guard Bureau.
Among other speakers are senior leaders from such organizations as the American Red Cross, FBI, Infragard, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),
NASA, Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation, Army Corps of Engineers, technology company EMC, SOLE-The International Society of Logistics, Safe Skies
Alliance and Raytheon Corp.
“This unique conference integrates manmade and natural disaster issues, problems and practical solutions. This includes technology that links interest
groups from the public and private sectors, and non-profits,” said Cliff Bragdon, Ph.D., conference chairman and Dean of University College at Florida
Tech.
In addition to lectures, panel discussions and at least 20 exhibitors, the conference will offer a hands-on simulation exercise that combines a Category 4
hurricane with a terrorism event simultaneously occurring at a state capital. The conference will also include “Golden Phoenix Exercise: A Summary Report”
presented by Steven Cooper, former Chief Intelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Office of the President, Washington, D.C., as well
as Florida National Guard and Office of Emergency Management demonstrations.
Attendees will receive conference proceedings, including a DVD and a complimentary copy of Bragdon’s new book, Transportation Security, published by
Elsevier. An evening reception, luncheons and breakfasts are also included. Conference fees are $695 for businesses and $550 for government and
non-profits.
For conference registration information, visit: http//uc.fit.edu/cnp or contact Nikki Hoier at (321) 674-8388 or hoier-ca@fit.edu.
