Nancy Ward is the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the first woman to hold the position, which she started in January 2023. Ward started her Emergency Management career in 1985, with the California Department of Social Services and went on to serve in several positions at Cal OES starting in the early 90s and again in 2014, bringing decades of distinguished leadership in emergency management, including at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

Ward had been a Retired Annuitant at Cal OES since 2017, where she was Chief Deputy Director and Homeland Security Deputy Advisor from 2014 to 2017. In 2009, she served as the FEMA Acting Administrator within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ward was Regional Administrator for FEMA Region IX, which serves Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and American Samoa, from 2006 to 2014, and served as FEMA Response and Recovery Division Director from 2000 to 2006. 

Ward served in two details at FEMA headquarters as the Deputy Director of the Recovery Directorate during FEMA’s response and recovery operations for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. She has also served in various senior management positions in more than 100 disasters, including severe storms, flooding, wildfires, landslides, mudslides, and earthquakes in California, response to 911 and Hurricane Katrina, and Pacific area earthquakes, tsunamis, and severe drought. 

Before joining FEMA, Ward was Chief of the Disaster Assistance Branch and Deputy State Coordinating Officer for Cal OES. She administered the state’s Natural Disaster Assistance Act program assistance provisions, which provide disaster assistance funding to local governments for state-level emergencies and disasters. 

Ward has received awards for extraordinary accomplishments, including the 2007 DHS Award for Excellence for her leadership during the California wildfires, President Obama’s 2009 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive, was inducted in 2012 into the International Woman in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame, and received the 2023 California Woman in Homeland Security Leadership Award. 

FEMA Region 9 Administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. was appointed in July 2015. 

Since joining FEMA in 1996, Mr. Fenton has played a significant role in numerous large-scale response and recovery operations in the U.S. He has responded to more than 100 federal disasters, including the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks; Hurricane Katrina; four Florida hurricanes in 2004; super typhoons Pongsona, Mangkhut and Yutu in the Pacific; the Kilauea volcano eruption; multiple wildfire major disaster declarations, including the largest in the nation’s history; and as the federal coordinating officer for COVID-19 response in four states, three territories and over 150 federally-recognized tribes. 

In 2023 Mr. Fenton was appointed by President Biden to be the Chief Federal Response Coordinator for the historic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. In 2017, he served as the acting FEMA administrator during the transition between presidential administrations. He filled that same role from January to May 2021. 

From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Fenton served in the dual roles of director of disaster assistance and acting director of disaster operations in Region 9, where he was responsible for the delivery and coordination of all-hazards disaster planning, response and recovery in the region. 

Mr. Fenton worked in various executive leadership roles at FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. from 2009-2015, including as the deputy associate administrator in the Office of Response and Recovery, where he was instrumental in crafting the reorganization of the Response Directorate and the Office of Response and Recovery, as well as leading the Response Directorate’s effort on whole community catastrophic planning, doctrine development, staff training and credentialing, and exercises. 

Mr. Fenton is a fifth-generation San Franciscan. He majored in Business Communications at U.C. Davis and is a graduate of the Capstone and Pinnacle programs at National Defense University. 

Robyn Fennig is the Assistant Director for Hazard Mitigation and State Hazard Mitigation Officer at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Prior to taking this role she was the Hazard Mitigation Planning Division Chief at OES, overseeing state and local hazard mitigation planning for California. Robyn came from Wisconsin Emergency Management, where she was the SHMO and worked in the Hazard Mitigation, Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Emergency Management Assistance Compact programs from 2011 to 2022. Robyn also held a brief role as a Research Analyst at the Association of State Floodplain Managers in 2017-2018. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa and has been a Certified Floodplain Manager since 2012. Robyn is enthusiastic about connecting communities to resources that build and enhance local resilience capabilities. In her spare time Robyn is a multi-time World Champion ultimate frisbee athlete, coaches the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club at UC-Davis and serves as a National Hazard Mitigation Policy Committee Co-Chair for the Association of State Floodplain Managers.

Melissa Boudrye is the Resilience Chief at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), where she established the Resilience Branch in December 2023. Her career spans community development, emergency management, and disaster recovery, beginning as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama and later supporting Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she honed her expertise in program management and organizational development. 

Her passion for emergency management was ignited during her service with FEMA in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Joining FEMA full-time in 2018, Melissa took on leadership roles in disaster response and recovery, including Federal Disaster Recovery Officer, and Operations Branch Director, before accepting a position as an Operations Section Chief during the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to supporting major incidents like the Tornado Swarms in Kentucky, Hurricane Ida, the California Winter Storms, and completing her service with FEMA as the Ops Chief for the Maui wildfires last year. A seasoned leader with deployments to dozens of disasters, Melissa brings a collaborative and innovative approach to building resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Ron Miller is the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch Chief overseeing the Grants Division and the Quality Assurance Division which includes the Administration, Assessment, and Special Projects Units. Before coming to Cal OES in 2017, Ron spent twelve years with the California Office of Traffic Safety administering federal grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento.

Kathryn (Katie) Lipiecki is director of the Mitigation Division for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9 office in Oakland, California. In this role, she oversees the regional implementation of mitigation programs, including the flood mapping program, Hazard Mitigation Planning program, multi-million dollar disaster and non-disaster mitigation grants such as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, floodplain management and flood insurance programs, and Environmental and Historic Preservation compliance. 

Prior to joining Region 9 in 2020, Katie was the hazard mitigation division director in Puerto Rico, supporting recovery efforts for hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the 2020 earthquakes. In this role, she oversaw the implementation of various mitigation program areas, including the $3.6 billion Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and supported the obligation of over $115 million for 406 mitigation. 

Katie started with FEMA Region 3 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, working in the Floodplain Management & Insurance branch and serving as the Risk Analysis branch chief. 

Before FEMA, Katie worked for URS Corporation, where she supported FEMA’s flood map modernization program. She also volunteered on a local historic preservation commission in Haddonfield, New Jersey, providing guidance on compliance with historic district regulations. 

She holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University in New York City, where she concentrated in housing policy, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation and American Studies from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Command and General Staff Officers’ Common Core course.

Stephanie Stephens is currently the Non-Disaster Grants Branch Chief in the Mitigation Division at FEMA Region 9. She has spent the last 8 years in the mitigation field overseeing 10 complex hazard mitigation grant programs, including BRIC and HMGP, at both the state and federal level. Prior to her time at FEMA, Stephanie directed the Inland Region hazard mitigation assistance team at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services where she led the mitigation efforts for the Town of Paradise Camp Fire and the Redding Carr Fire.

Adam is the Climate Resilience Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy in California. Adam worked as a farmer and winemaker for many years before entering the environmental field. He began his career building green roofs and urban gardens that reduce urban heat islands and turn excess stormwater into vegetables for local residents. Adam also collaborated with farmers to fund and build riparian buffers, wildflower meadows, and other nature-based solutions on their properties. Most recently, Adam worked with The Wilderness Society to determine community-focused policy priorities at the intersection of food systems, environment, and justice. Adam was raised in Virginia and is currently based in Los Angeles.

Ankitha Doddanari is the Climate Resilience Analysis and Engagement lead in the Climate Services team at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (formerly Office of Planning and Research) where she has been working on the development of the Vulnerable Communities Platform (VCP) for the past year.

Margot McDonald, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP is a professor of architecture and faculty fellow in the WUI Fire Institute at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  Her teaching and research include building energy performance, resilience, sustainability, and interdisciplinary design with architecture, landscape architecture, planning, structural engineering, and construction management disciplines. Her current focus is planning and design to strengthen wildfire resilience in the built environment. A licensed architect in the State of Oregon, McDonald holds an M. Arch. from the University of Oregon, B.S. Math/B.A. French from UC Santa Barbara and is completing a master’s of Infrastructure Planning and Management through the University of Washington.

Matthew Malecha is a faculty member with the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning and the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center (HRRC) at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on community resilience to natural hazards—specifically the roles of plans, policies, and regulations, and their interactions with underlying social and spatial characteristics. Spatial plan evaluation and the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS™) are central to this work. Malecha holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota.

James P. Kupihea Jr., Ph.D., is the Loss Avoidance Research Specialist in the Hazard Mitigation Assessment Unit at Cal OES, where he evaluates state- and federally funded hazard mitigation projects to ensure their effectiveness in protecting people, property, and the environment. With expertise in geospatial analysis, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and remote sensing techniques, James monitors natural hazards across California—such as wildfires, floods, and earthquakes—to assess their impacts on mitigation efforts. 

Holding a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Ecology from UC Merced, James has over a decade of experience in ecosystem science, combining rigorous research with practical tools to model hazards and create advanced visual analyses. A lifelong outdoors enthusiast, his passion for science was sparked by early experiences hiking, fishing, and camping, which continue to inspire his work. 

Michael Commons is a senior member of the Data Analytics Branch in FEMA Region 9. In this role, Michael supports data management and analytics across all aspects of the disaster lifecycle and long-term resilience. Michael was trained as a geographer, has extensive field experience, and has worked as an analyst for numerous federal agencies and academia. Currently, Michael is on a detail with FEMA headquarters to support the Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZ) designation process for Tribal Nations.

Amos Pole has been a disaster responder since 1999, beginning with the Megrim Fire, and has since built a career defined by technical expertise and community leadership. He is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (2011), Emergency Manager (2016), Firefighter Type 2 (2009), Hazardous Materials Technician Specialist (2009), and Advanced Swift Water Rescue Technician V. Since 2009, Amos has served as the Volunteer Fire Chief for the Hoopa Fire Department, leading emergency responses and fostering resilience in his community. 

In addition to his operational roles, Amos works as an Environmental Water Quality Planner III and is passionate about teaching High/Low angle ropes rescue techniques. As a CERT Disaster Preparedness Instructor, he empowers communities to better prepare for emergencies. With a career spanning over two decades, Amos continues to combine technical expertise with a commitment to service and education.

Brian has a B.S in Biology from Northern Arizona University and has been at EID for approximately 17 years. His role at EID involves CEQA/NEPA environmental review and regulatory permitting for infrastructure projects, license compliance for EID’s hydroelectric project, water rights management and reporting, and grant writing and implementation. 

Michael Fam is an accomplished civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in infrastructure development, project management, and leadership, specializing in flood control and community resilience. Currently serving as the Engineering Manager for the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, he leads a team of 24 professionals, overseeing critical infrastructure projects, enhancing emergency response strategies, and securing funding for long-term capital improvements. With a career spanning role in both California and his early work in Egypt with the Ministry of Public Works, Michael has successfully managed complex projects, including levees, dams, and drainage systems, while ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering stakeholder collaboration. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Michael is deeply committed to education and mentoring. He teaches hydrology and hydraulics at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, equipping students with modern tools and preparing them for professional certifications. Holding a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Michael combines technical expertise with a passion for community engagement, advancing public works and hazard mitigation initiatives to protect and enhance Southern California communities. 

Victoria LaMar-Haas is currently the Branch Chief over the Mitigation Planning Section at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).  Over the past 28+ years, Victoria has worked in all aspects of emergency management, including in the executive office, response, recovery, preparedness, and mitigation, and has been activated in the State Operation Center for multiple disasters over the years. She also served as the conference coordinator for the Disaster Resistant California (DRC) conference in support of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the California Project Impact efforts.  Additionally, Victoria led the efforts for California Alliance for Response, a partnership between the California Preservation Program (Cal AFR) and the Heritage Emergency National Task Force whose mission focused on putting into place the processes, resources and people to ensure preservation of the cultural property, libraries, and archives in California following major disaster events. Victoria joined the Hazard Mitigation Branch in 2008 as the Earthquake Mitigation and Ports and Harbors Specialist before serving as the lead planner, manager over the Local Mitigation Planning Program and now the Branch Manager overseeing both Local Mitigation Planning efforts and the State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP).  Victoria is a long-time member of the California Emergency Services Association (CESA) and is the recipient of the CESA Gold Award for her contributions to the field of emergency management.  Before coming to Cal OES, Victoria was an Assignment Editor at FOX 40 Television in Sacramento and has an extensive background in broadcasting and journalism.  She is a native of Sonoma County and is a graduate of CSU Sacramento. 

Sarah Samdin (she/her) is a Senior Adaptation and Resilience Planner at the Governor’s Office of Land Use Planning and Climate Innovation (LCI). At LCI, she oversees a suite of Cooperative Technical Partnerships grants from FEMA to support a range of Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP) initiatives including, piloting the alignment of state climate resilience programs with federal hazard mitigation funding and the Plan Alignment Toolkit. Sarah also supports the ICARP’s Adaptation Planning Grant Program, a grant program focused on filling local, regional, and tribal climate adaptation planning needs. Sarah has a Masters in Infrastructure Planning and Management from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California, Davis. 

Worked for CAL FIRE for over 30 years, progressing through the ranks from Firefighter to Deputy Chief. I have been assigned to the Land Use Planning Program for the past 7 years at the Region and Sacramento level and promoted to the Deputy Chief to oversee the Statewide Land Use Planning Program in July of 2024.

Patrice Clemons is an experienced Program and Project Management professional with nearly fifteen years experience in supporting local and regional development efforts to build vibrant and thriving communities. Patrice Clemons currently oversees the CDBG-Disaster Recovery and Mitigation – Community Programs at the CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). These programs provide funding and technical assistance for planning, public service, infrastructure, public facility, and economic development related activities. She has worked with various federal and state community development and housing programs including CDBG and HOME; and has worked in loan fund development, housing studies, and grant writing.

Dezaraye Bagalayos, Associate Executive Director. Born and bred in the Central Valley, Dezaraye is an uncompromising visionary with roots in community organizing and water rights advocacy. Over two decades, Dezaraye has honed her skills in environmental and labor advocacy and grassroots organizing in the Central Valley of California, with a focus on Tulare Basin’s rural communities of color and modern water access issues. As a co-leader, Dezaraye has presided over APA’s rapid growth, supervising a staff of eight and managing a core group of consultants for the implementation of multi-million-dollar planning initiatives. Dezaraye is dedicated to developing community leadership, sharing generously her holistic knowledge of Central Valley water politics and uncompromising passions for the urgency of climate justice and community leadership to Allensworth Progressive Association.

Deborah Halberstadt is the Special Advisor to the Commissioner on Biodiversity and Inclusive insurance at the California Department of Insurance. In this role, she advises the Commissioner on the development and implementation of strategic initiatives associated with protecting and restoring biodiversity and promoting social and environmental justice in the context of insurance regulation. Deborah guides innovation in insurance in order to mainstream biodiversity and ecosystem services into decision-making, while at the same time redressing social inequities.   

Deborah is a visionary and persuasive leader and an accomplished attorney. She has worked at the forefront of climate law and policy in California in her roles as Senior Climate Policy Advisor with the Department of Insurance, Deputy Secretary for Coastal and Ocean Policy with the California Natural Resources Agency, Executive Director of the California Ocean Protection Council, Deputy Attorney General with the Environment and Land Law sections of the California Department of Justice, and Federal Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Governor. She clerked for the Alaska Supreme Court and was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  

Deborah loves exploring the wonders of nature with her family – the wilder, the better – and concluding with a decadent cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows.  

Deborah received her B.A. from Stanford and her J.D. from Berkeley Law.   

Abby Edwards serves as the Acting Executive Director of Planning and Policy, Deputy Director for Climate and Planning Programs at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI),and Chair of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (ICARP) Technical Advisory Council. With over a decade of experience in climate adaptation and resilience planning, Abby has led statewide programs, managed interdisciplinary teams, and fostered partnerships across government, nonprofit, and community sectors. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and manager of climate-focused programs at CivicWell, Abby Edwards brings a deep commitment to advancing sustainable, equitable, and impactful solutions to California’s most pressing climate challenges. 

Monisha Avery was appointed Chief of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in October 2022. She is a strategic thought leader and brings a strong commitment to the work of equity and a lifetime in public service including non-profit organizations, county government, and the state.  Her role as Chief Equity Officer is to embed equity and engagement principles throughout Cal OES’s policies, programs, and workforce. Additionally, she oversees Listos California, a model statewide community engagement program. With a Master’s degree in Social Work, Monisha has experience addressing issues faced by under-represented communities.  

Prior to coming to Cal OES, she served at the California Health and Human Services Agency as Deputy Director at the Center for Data Insights and Innovation at the California Health and Human Service and Acting Director at the Office of the Patient Advocate. 

Camille Randolph (they/them) is a Program Analyst with the Racial Equity Commission, where they conduct statewide community engagement efforts with hundreds of community members, lead the Commission’s communication and outreach, and preform research for the State of California’s seminal Race Equity Framework. Camille earned their Master’s degree in Race, Ethnicity, and Conflict and brings a background in racial and environmental justice. Prior to joining the Racial Equity Commission, Camille served as an Executive Fellow at the California Strategic Growth Council where they led efforts on Tribal inclusion in competitive grant programs, increasing capacity in state housing and transportation agencies, and supporting community partners in accessing millions in federal funding. In addition to their experience in state and local government, Camille also has a background in advocacy, including QTBIPOC rights.

Teresa Greenhalgh is the San Diego County Fire Community Emergency Response Team (SDCF CERT) Coordinator. Her vision and passion continue to grow the CERT Program with a focus on team organization and response readiness. Under her leadership, the SDCF CERT volunteers have completed several response deployments including the Statewide CERT Call Out for the Camp Fires’s Disaster Recovery Operations. 

She has presented on topics such as Building Disaster Confident and Resilient Communities, Creative Community Outreach, CERT Mutual Aid, and developed an Advanced CERT Program Manager Workshop inspiring other programs to do conduct more disaster preparedness outreach. 

With the launch of the Listos CA CERT Support Grant in June 2019, the SDCF CERT volunteers have reached 13,000+ geographically isolated residents through a variety of engaging and informative community emergency preparedness activities, events and training. The SDCF CERT Program was awarded a 2020 National Association of Counties Award (NACo); making them nationally recognized for their work building disaster confident and resilient communities with their County Library system. 

Elizabeth Ernster is the Director of Communications and Development at the California State Alliance of YMCAs, where she leads initiatives to strengthen community engagement and support for the Alliance’s mission across California. With over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector and specializing in strategic partnerships, Elizabeth brings a wealth of expertise in building collaborations that drive impact. Her work emphasizes the importance of connecting organizations with communities to foster resilience, health, and empowerment. Elizabeth’s approach to community engagement is grounded in her commitment to creating meaningful, lasting relationships that support the YMCA’s vision of strengthening California communities.

Alex Shariatmadari is a Senior Emergency Services Coordinator and the Tribal Liaison at Cal OES, where he works to build strong partnerships with tribal governments, state agencies, and key stakeholders to improve emergency preparedness and disaster response within tribal communities. Over the past six (6) years, he has gained valuable experience in California’s emergency management efforts, including mitigation, response and recovery, coordinating mass care and shelter operations, individual assistance programs, and volunteer agency collaboration. Prior to this, Alex spent over a decade with the United Nations, contributing to humanitarian emergency response and efforts in various international contexts. 

Alex holds a master’s degree in international relations and is a certified Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Specialist. He is committed to fostering cultural inclusivity and collaboration to support communities in need and enhance resilience across diverse populations.

Brandon Fore, M.P.A., is the Program Manager for the Hazard Mitigation Assessment Unit at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). In this role, he oversees data analysis, technical assistance, and hazard monitoring to identify loss avoidance opportunities for completed Hazard Mitigation projects. With extensive experience in emergency management, Brandon has been activated for numerous disaster responses, serving in roles such as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations Chief, and Chief of Staff for federally declared disasters. 

Brandon’s career includes managing strategic initiatives like the Recovery Directorate Concept of Operations and Future of Work Policy as Recovery Directorate Executive Front Office Manager. He has contributed to environmental and tribal recovery projects at the California Department of Water Resources and gained legislative analysis and lobbying experience early in his career. A dedicated public servant, Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from San Diego State University and an M.P.A. from McGeorge School of Law. An Eagle Scout, he remains actively engaged in public service organizations in the Sacramento area. 

Joe Purvis is currently the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP) Division Chief, providing oversight of the four units responsible for the successful implementation of HMGP projects currently awarded throughout the State of California. Joe has a decade of experience in managing Federal and State grants while serving the people of California. Prior to state service, Joe worked in the financial services industry for nearly a decade and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from CSU Sacramento. 

Conchi has built an exemplary career in emergency management during her six years at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), rising swiftly from an entry-level Analyst in the Hazard Mitigation Program to Division Chief. Her natural aptitude for strategic thinking and problem-solving earned her rapid promotions, culminating in her leadership of the Technical Assistance Division—the nation’s first of its size. This innovative division provides critical resources and expertise to enhance emergency preparedness and disaster resilience across California. 

As Division Chief, Conchi has been instrumental in bridging gaps in disaster response and mitigation, solidifying Cal OES as a national leader in emergency services. Her hands-on experience, passion for public service, and commitment to innovation drive her strategic vision, ensuring that California’s communities are better prepared to face and overcome disasters. 

Ella Lockhart (They/She) is an Associate Environmental Planner with the Wildfire Resilience Unit at Cal OES’ Resilience Branch – Technical Assistance Division. At Cal OES, they support public outreach and subapplication development for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs in alignment with California’s statewide and local mitigation actions. They have a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley in Anthropology with a professional background in cultural resource management and archaeological fieldwork.    

Kyle Tyson is an Associate Environmental Planner with the Climate and Flood Resilience Unit at Cal OES’ Resilience Branch – Technical Assistance Division. At Cal OES, he supports public outreach and subapplication development for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs in alignment with California’s statewide and local mitigation actions. He has a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University in Sustainability and Ecology with a professional background in conservation biology and fieldwork.   

Ed Edsten has worked at Cal OES since August 2022 starting within the HM Grants section and moving over to Technical Assistance in the Resilience Branch in April of 2024. Ed has been activated for multiple disasters for Hazard Mitigation including DR-4683, DR-4699 and DR-4750. 

Andrea Harvey is a Senior Grants Management Specialist for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP). She currently serves as the California HMGP Team Lead.  Andrea has over 15 years of federal grants management experience, providing grants oversight for both competitive and non-competitive Federal grants programs. 

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jakob earned his MA (2005) and PhD (2011) in anthropology from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Jakob joined FEMA in 2019 supporting the Texas Recovery Office and later the Louisiana Integrated Recovery Office. During autumn 2023, he joined the Region 9 team in Oakland, CA. Currently, Jakob leads an exceptional team of specialists reviewing all non-disaster grants across the region. 

Chief McCulley oversees the Wildfire Preparedness program which consists of Defensible Space, Home Hardening, the Burn permit application, and Damage inspection. These programs work hand in hand in preparing a home for an oncoming wildfire. Defensible Space has included the Qualified Entities program that trains Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities and the CCC to assist with doing Defensible Space assessments and mitigations in the communities.  

Chief McCulley started her career in Northern California and worked throughout California, working most of her career in Southern California. After 22 years in the field, she moved into the Land Use program working with cities and counties to update their Safety Element in their General Plan to include wildfire mitigation. She worked as a Battalion Chief in the Southern region command center dispatching equipment and aircraft around the state for emergency incidents. After three years she was promoted to the Assistant Chief of Defensible Space. While there she worked with our GIS team to bring our new burn permit application online for the public. She was then promoted to the Deputy Chief position she holds today. She has an associate degree in Fire Science. 

Lopez brings over 33 years of expertise in forestry and wildfire mitigation, having retired as Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Forestry Division. He has led initiatives in forest management, urban forestry, vegetation management, defensible space, and pre-fire engineering, responding to hundreds of significant emergency incidents. A former member of the Federal Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) and California Watershed Emergency Response (WERT) teams, Lopez also served as an Incident Command System liaison and instructor for USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Currently, Lopez leads the California Wildfire Mitigation Program Authority, established under Assembly Bill 38 to strengthen wildfire resilience through home hardening, defensible space, and community-wide mitigation measures, with a focus on vulnerable communities. He serves on numerous advisory councils and boards, including the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and the State Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee. Recognized for his leadership, Lopez has received multiple honors, including the SAF Foresters Fellow Award, the SAF Presidential Outstanding Field Forester Award, and the USGBC-CA Resiliency Award. 

Chief O’Neil has been leading the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Home Hardening program and has been a team member of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program since June 2022. The California Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP) was created as part of the State of California’s effort to strengthen community-wide resilience against wildfires. The program aims to develop a state home hardening initiative to retrofit, harden, and create defensible space for homes at high risk of wildfires.  

Chief O’Neil’s duties under this program include overseeing the home hardening assessment process, developing home hardening retrofits, and defensible space treatments and standards. Before joining CAL FIRE’s Home Hardening program, Chief O’Neil held leadership positions in wildland fuels management, training, and various operational positions.  

Chief O’Neil has an associate’s degree in Fire Technology and a bachelor’s degree in forestry and Natural Resources Management from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Chief O’Neil has also served many years on CAL FIRE Incident Command Teams as a Fire Behavior Analyst and Situation Unit Leader. 

Stacy Rodgers is a Branch Chief over the CDBG-DR Housing Programs at the CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). She began working with federal community development and housing programs in 2018 starting with the annual CDBG non-entitlement program, then moved to CDBG-DR in 2019. Stacy has led the development of multiple CDBG-DR programs for wildfire recovery and mitigation including the affordable multifamily rental housing program, homebuyer assistance program and ReCoverCA single-family housing reconstruction and mitigation retrofits programs. 

Yegor Lyashenko joined ReCoverCA in March 2024, bringing extensive expertise in the construction industry. With a strong background in affordable housing development, Yegor has played a key role in creating sustainable and accessible housing solutions for diverse communities. As a licensed General Contractor, he combines technical proficiency with practical experience to deliver high-quality results in every project. Yegor is also deeply committed to fire mitigation and home hardening, leveraging his knowledge to help communities build safer, more resilient homes in fire-prone areas.

Mark Benthien is the Director of Public Education and Preparedness at the Statewide California Earthquake Center, headquartered at the University of Southern California. In this
role he serves as Executive Director of the California-focused Earthquake Country Alliance, Global Coordinator of Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills (which involve more than 50 million
people worldwide each year), and is the Executive Producer of Quake Heroes (a documentary about the 1994 Northridge earthquake). Mark received a Bachelor of Science in
Geophysics from UCLA and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from USC.

Jose Lara serves as the Chief of the Seismic Hazards Branch within the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The branch’s focus is on improving the safety of California’s residents and visitors before disaster strikes by enhancing earthquake, tsunami, and volcano preparedness. He also oversees the development and implementation of the California Earthquake Early Warning System, the country’s first publicly available, statewide warning system that could give California residents crucial seconds to take cover before you feel shaking.  

Jose was formerly the Chief of the Mitigation and Dam Safety Branch and was charged with the implementation of the department’s program and statutory requirements related to State and Local Hazard Mitigation Planning and dam safety emergency planning. His past experiences in emergency management and homeland security include Hazard Mitigation Planning and Critical Infrastructure Protection. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Jose has deployed to the State and Regional Operations Centers as a Director and Planning Section Chief, in response to multiple federally- and state-declared disasters including the Oroville Dam Spillway Incident and the COVID-19 Response. He has 17 years of experience in the emergency management and homeland security field within California. Jose earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations, Peace and Security, from the University of California, Davis. As an avid white water rafting guide, Jose has a personal interest and knowledge of water features in the state.  

Janiele Maffei is the Chief Mitigation Officer at the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), where she manages the California Residential Mitigation Program, the retrofit incentive program Earthquake Brace and Bolt, various research projects, and other mitigation efforts that will benefit both policyholders and California homeowners. She received an M.S. degree in Civil (Structural) Engineering and A.B. degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and is licensed as a Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer, with over 40 years of experience in the design of new buildings, retrofit designs of existing buildings, seismic evaluations, seismic loss estimation studies, design of equipment anchorages, preparation of construction documents, project management, and construction administration. After fifteen years as a project manager and regional office director with Degenkolb Engineers, she opened her own practice where she managed complex design projects, before joiniing CEA in 2011. She is a past President of the Northern California Chapter and previously served on the Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer.

Dr. Wendy Bohon is a geologist who studies earthquakes and works to improve the communication of science. She has a BA in Theatre and Geology from James Madison University, a MSc in Geology from Ohio State University, and a PhD in Earthquake Geology from Arizona State University. Currently, Dr. Bohon is the Seismic Hazards & Earthquake Engineering Branch Chief for the California Geological Survey. Previously she has worked as the Head of Strategic Communication at NASA Goddard for the Earth Sciences Division, the Senior Science Communication Specialist for the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, and the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in Pasadena, California. She is also an AAAS If/Then Science Ambassador and a mother of 3. Dr. Wendy Bohon’s webpage, click here.

Michael Mierzwa is a technical and policy advisor on flood management for the California Department of Water Resources Division of Flood Operations. With over 25 years of expertise in water resources planning, design, and financing, he focuses on floodplain management, hydrodynamics, and emergency operations. His current projects include developing a community-based flood insurance pilot to supplement the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), coordinating State agency NFIP compliance, supporting local updates to emergency response plans for floodwater diversion to groundwater recharge, and representing California in the National Levee Safety Program. 

Mierzwa holds a BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M and UC Davis, where his graduate research optimized reservoir operations using seasonal climate models. Previously, he served as the State Floodplain Manager, leading significant efforts such as the 2017 update to the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan and joint hydrology studies with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An active volunteer and international representative, he has contributed to initiatives in engineering, education, and global water management. 

Braden Kay is the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Manager at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. He holds a PhD in Sustainability from Arizona State University and is a graduate of Carleton College. Braden has worked a consultant, implementor and educator in local government in Missouri, Indiana, Florida and Arizona.

Walker Wieland is Chief of the Extreme Heat Ranking System Development Section within the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Walker is leading the development of CalHeatScore, an extreme heat ranking system for California. Walker previously spent over a decade developing CalEnviroScreen, California’s pioneering environmental justice screening tool.