William “Wes” Sumner, Ph.D.
A bastion of logic in an illogical world
Specialties & Interests
DISASTER RESPONSE
Developing efficient emergency systems locally and abroad; implementing ways to address impacted animals, homeless, and access & functional needs populations; animal disaster response; improving organizational continuity and recovery strategies
COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Crisis management and leadership during WMD incidents to enhance lifesaving responses; cultural issues affecting CWMD efforts; analyzing proliferation pathways, the Civil Defense framework, and its legacy
INNOVATION
Developing robust public-private sector preparedness programs; discovering risk mitigation and impact analysis can be better integrated into community development; incorporating project management functions into the emergency management profession
ABOUT
I am a military officer who wants to use my skills to make an impact in the field of emergency management and help to develop more resilient communities. I am passionate about solving problems, implementing solutions, and creating change that enables individuals and organizations to overcome disruptions, regardless of their origin.
Currently, I serve as the Program Manager of United States Northern Command’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise, a framework consisting of nearly 8,500 federal military personnel designed to respond to CBRN incidents and disasters in the U.S. and its territories. I also manage VISTA FORGE, an extensive exercise engagement program designed to strengthen relationships, alleviate potential friction points, and build local resilience within the response community during emergency operations. In previous positions, I worked with numerous countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia to establish multinational emergency response systems, CBRN-based educational curriculums, and counter proliferation capacity-building programs. Along the way, I also managed a zoo, practiced archaeology in a combat zone, and traveled all over the world meeting an absolutely amazing variety of people! All of this very diverse experience, along with my equally diverse educational background, has given me a unique perspective on not only emergency response, but also how all the complicated bits (culture, politics, resources, etc.) come together to influence an event, crisis, and/or opportunity.
I hold advanced degrees in Archaeology and Education (Instructional Systems), as well as a Ph.D. in Biodefense. I am a published author (Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes) and have volunteered extensively with organizations such as the ASPCA, Red Cross, and my local Animal Shelter/Community Animal Response Team.
CHDS AFFILIATION
Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.
– Squire Bill Widener
(often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt)
HIGHLIGHTS
DIABLO PATHWAYS, Republic of Georgia
DIABLO PATHWAYS was a series of training events and practical exercises designed to assist partner nations in identifying and interdicting regional proliferation route logistical nodes. Events include operational awareness in contaminated environments, gathering and preservation of contaminated evidence, and information sharing with the intent of furthering intelligence collection.
Exercise Vista Forge 2022
U.S. Northern Command coordinated with multiple government and non-government agencies in creating Exercise Vista Forge 2022, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear event training scenario taking place on the Southwestern outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 2-3, 2022.
Saving baghdad zoo
For more information about the animal rescue missions in Iraq, read Saving the Baghdad Zoo, by Major William Sumner and Kelly Milner Halls.