Evolving The Emergency Management Enterprise to Meet a New Operational Reality
|
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
|
June 2023
1
CONVERSATIONS
belfercenter.org/homelandsecurity
HOMELAND SECURITY PROJECT | JUNE 2023
Evolving The Emergency
Management Enterprise to Meet
a New Operational Reality:
A State Perspective
Kevin Klein and Shawn Talmadge
This paper is part of a continuing publication series for the Global Crisis & Resilience Forum led by Juliette Kayyem,
Faculty Chair of the Belfer Center’s Homeland Security Program. The forum is supported by McKinsey & Company.
The ideas in these papers are the independent product of the discussants.
Background
In November 2022, the Belfer Center, with support from McKinsey & Company, brought together
a diverse group of leaders from the emergency management community to discuss the evolving
nature of emergency management, the challenges the enterprise faces, and solutions and strategies
to better prepare for the new, poly-crisis climate. Among those leaders were Homeland Security
Advisor (Colo.) Kevin Klein
1
and State Coordinator and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor (Va.)
Shawn Talmadge.
2
They graciously agreed to participate in a facilitated dialogue with Belfer Center
Fellow Nate Bruggeman
3
to further explore the themes and issues discussed in November 2022.
4
1 Kevin Klein is the director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Department of
Public Safety and the Governor’s designated Homeland Security Advisor.
2 Shawn Talmadge serves as the Virginia State Coordinator of Emergency Management and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor.
Prior to this position, he was the Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Governor’s Homeland
Security Advisor.
3 Nate Bruggeman is a Fellow at the Belfer Center’s Homeland Security Project and the Executive Editor of its Homeland
Security Policy Paper Series.
4 The participants engaged in an initial interview. The facilitator and participants edited the transcript of the interview for
clarity and completeness.
