Leaders from government agencies, national associations and the private sector are at the forefront of our nation’s emergency preparedness mission. In a rapidly changing environment, leaders need continuous education and professional development to cultivate a more thorough understanding of emerging issues, public policy debates, and the underlying causes of the hazards and threats we face. Recognizing this, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), in conjunction with the FEMA Technological Hazards Division, developed the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Executive Education Programs to provide government and industry leaders with the tools and resources they need to think and act strategically about off-site fixed nuclear facility emergency preparedness. The programs bring local, state, federal, tribal, territorial and industry partners together to enhance their critical thinking and develop a better understanding of the complexity of their mission.

CHDS delivers three types of Radiological Emergency Preparedness Executive Education Program offerings: in-residence, in-residence early-career, or field-delivered (anywhere in the country). All three types are conducted in a highly interactive setting, including:

• Professional networking in a multi-jurisdiction, multi-discipline environment;
• Seminar discussion-driven delivery in which participants are involved in evaluating and addressing critical issues;
• Discussions centered around strategic and crisis communications as well as changes in the REP program environment and evolving threats; and
• Activities, case studies, and scenario planning that establish the predicate for class and small-group discussions.

In-residence REP Executive Education Program

The in-residence REP program is conducted at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) on the campus of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. This program is designed for local, state, federal, tribal, territorial and industry leaders responsible for off-site, fixed nuclear facility emergency preparedness, response and recovery. It is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of participating executives and does not require the workload of traditional graduate-level education programs. There are two, five-day in-residence sessions over the course of a six month period. Participants must commit to attending all days of both sessions. The in-residence program is fully sponsored for participants to include student travel, per diem, and lodging in accordance with federal travel regulations.

In-residence REP Curriculum

The curriculum for the program is constantly evolving to meet the needs of leaders within the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) community. Previous sessions have included the following lecture topics:

• Enhancing Culture of Preparedness for REP
• Public Policy Development
• Appreciative Leadership
• Understanding the Threats
• Brain Science and Thinking Strategically
• Failure of Imagination in the Homeland Security Enterprise: Scenario Planning Mythologies to Think the Unthinkable
• Artificial Intelligence
• Risk and Security in a Challenging World
• Thinking about Complexity
• Communications and Compelling Use of Data
• Leading in a Complex Environment
• Adaptive Communications
• Thinking Strategically: Toward More Resilient Futures

In-residence REP Timeline

In-residence REP Criteria and Eligibility

• Full-time employee a local, state, tribal, territorial, or federal homeland security/public safety agency or a private sector employee with off-site, fixed nuclear facility emergency preparedness responsibilities.
• A demonstrated commitment to a career in public safety and emergency management.
• Applicants should have strong collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and an appreciation for continuous education and professional growth.
• Applicants should enjoy learning through interactive activities.

Program participant selection considers the relevancy and level of applicants’ positions and radiological emergency preparedness responsibilities and the experience and knowledge they will bring to the program. This is very important since the sessions include facilitated discussions and debates where participants learn from one another. In addition, a major objective of the program is to establish relationships between executives across disciplines, agencies and levels of government so that they can utilize the network to develop new radiological emergency preparedness policies, strategies and plans to solve problems. Therefore, program participant selection will also consider the potential benefit of relationship building to the applicant.

Local, state, federal, tribal, territorial and industry leaders within the radiological emergency preparedness field should apply.

Early Career REP Executive Education Program

The Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Early Career Education Program is a unique opportunity for REP professionals who are in the early stage of their career. The program provides an educational forum and innovation lab for participants to explore emerging trends in the world around us in technology, society, and terrorism. Participants will discuss both the challenges associated with these complex trends as well as the opportunities to rethink how we protect our communities and the nation. In addition, program sessions will assist participants in emerging strategies for implementing innovative ideas, being a leader, and for a successful REP career. All costs associated with participating – tuition, books and travel – are covered by CHDS through its sponsor, the FEMA Technological Hazards Division.

Early Career REP Program Objectives

• Enhance the next generation of Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) leaders’ understanding of the REP discipline and emerging trends.
• Broaden participants’ REP perspectives and what they view as opportunities for change and contributions their generation can make to the evolving discipline.
• Emphasize and enhance critical inquiry, analysis, and evidence-based research to understand complex problems and to develop and implement new ideas.
• Develop and explore strategies for success in a changing work environment.
• Inspire participants to a career in radiological emergency preparedness.

Early Career REP Learning Structure

• Single five-day in-residence session held at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
• The cohort of participants will be chosen from a national applicant pool and will reflect the variety of professional backgrounds and geographic areas that comprise the REP community.
• Sessions are a mixture of interactive and informative presentations, discussions and group exercises.
• A significant part of the REP Early Career Education Program includes an innovation lab for participants to research and develop an idea for change within their organizations (e.g., new policy, approach, program, procedure, system, use of technology, etc.). Participants will work collaboratively during the lab. CHDS staff will be available to assist with the drafting of individual innovation plans.
• As part of the program, participants will present their ideas to their agency leadership for consideration and feedback following the in-residence session.

Early Career REP Timeline

Early Career REP Criteria and Eligibility

• Full-time government employee of a local, state, tribal, territorial, or federal homeland security/public safety agency or a private sector employee with radiological emergency preparedness responsibilities.
• Preferred, but not required, less than 12 years total full-time work experience (including, all non-radiological emergency preparedness full-time jobs, but not counting high school, post high school, temporary or college jobs), at least one year (approximately) with current agency or organization. (Interested applicants with considerably more than 12 years of full-time work experience should consider applying to the REP Executive Education Program, CHDS Master’s Degree Program or the Executive Leaders Program.)
• A demonstrated commitment to a career in radiological emergency preparedness.
• Strong collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and an appreciation for continuous education and professional growth.
• An enjoyment of learning through interactive activities.

Field-delivered REP Executive Education Seminars

The field-delivered REP seminars are conducted around the country by CHDS teams comprised of nationally recognized experts from a variety of fields. Seminars are flexible in duration and may range from a few hours to multi-day sessions. Each seminar is designed to enhance preparedness of local, state, federal, tribal, territorial and industry professionals and challenge leaders to think about the complexity of a major off-site nuclear power plant emergency incident and the public’s response. CHDS teams work with requesting agencies and organizations to customize educational content and format to meet participant needs and objectives. The field-delivered seminars are fully funded to include on-site event delivery costs.