Keynotes
Human Excellence in the Face of Catastrophe
Monday, May 9 | 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Matthew Klimow, Executive Director, Bureau of Administration, U.S. Department of State
Through the harrowing hours of a crisis, a glimpse of excellence often shines through, where training, instincts and courage prevail. Retired Army Colonel Matthew S. Klimow—former White House advisor to the Vice President, military advisor to two Secretaries of State, and Silver Star recipient—recounts his experience in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, where he served as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the building filled with smoke, Colonel Klimow made his way to the heart of the Pentagon, the National Military Command Center, along with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Secretary of Defense. In a small oxygen starved room, a handful of senior leaders wrestled to respond to the coordinated terrorist attack. Colonel Klimow was witness to acts of heroism, inspired leadership, and strategic decision making that carried fateful consequences for our nation. “Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” Colonel Klimow will explore physical courage, moral courage, and how we can all find the source of human excellence in the face of catastrophe.
Matthew S. Klimow, Colonel (retired), is a career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the U.S. Department of State. He served as Executive Director of the Bureau of Consular Affairs 2003-2008 and is now the State Department’s Director of Language Services. A West Point graduate, he is a 30 year Army veteran. Key assignments include: Special Advisor to the Vice President of the United States (2002-2003), Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2000-2002), Commander of the 18th Airborne Corps Combat Support Brigade (1998-2000), and Military Advisor to the Secretary of State (1995-1998). He was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for valor in combat.
Surviving Disaster - Changing the Planning Paradigm in America
Tuesday, May 10 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Adam Montella, Vice President of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Animus Solutions & Disaster Expert for the Discovery Channel Series, The Colony
Hurricanes, Terrorism, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Pandemic Influenza - Globally disasters are on the rise. Both government and private industry budgets are being cut across the board, and unfortunately preparedness becomes a helpless victim. At the same time, disaster preparedness, response and recovery is becoming increasingly complex, more costly, and more regulated, and in many cases, more deadly. However, in America and abroad, the way we do planning or preparedness has not changed much.
If you read the after action reports for every major disaster or exercise since Hurricane Andrew, the results don't change much - shortfalls are noted, needed improvements are cited. Yet. read the after action report after the next catastrophic disaster and one could literally replace the name of the incident and the report would read the same as the first. There is good news. The face of disaster preparedness is changing for the better. New guidance is focusing on the "Whole of Community" to effectively plan for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Mandatory and voluntary compliance for private industry, and grant requirements for government are driving preparedness to be more deliberate.
Adam Montella, Vice President of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Animus Solutions and disaster expert for the Discovery Channel Series, THE COLONY is considered to be one of the top disaster planners in the country. With over 100 headline disasters under his belt, Montella will discuss his experiences, lessons learned, and the vision for the future of disaster preparedness in America .