Louisiana

New Orleans

70115

IAEM, LEPA, ASFMA, LFMA

Internationally

Operational experience at state and parish/county and local level, Lead of our fire department as a Class 1 department (358 of more than 46,000+ in the United States); achieving improved mitigation status in the Community Rating System floodplain program; writing and being awarded a $2,000,000 FEMA SAFER grant; finalizing expense reimbursement from past disasters in the tens of millions of dollars

Pandemic, Mass Fatality, Disaster Communications, Emergency Medical Assistance Compacts

More than a decade as university professor in HS/EM for graduates and undergraduates, HSEEP Training, Leadership certifications, National Incident Management System, multiple full-scale as well as table top exercises, Activated a new regional training program for first responders and mutual aid partners to improve experiential training and relationship-building before situations arise where seconds will count

Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Medical Issues, CBRNE Weapons, National Response Framework, National Contingency Plan, Incident Command System, Public Information, Border Security, and others

COOP, Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Heather M. Hilliard is an experienced homeland security and emergency management professional with more than 25 years of service. Ms. Hilliard has served as an Adjunct Professor at Tulane for more than a decade, and has also lectured at US NORTHCOMM, the Department of Defense as well as the US Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Heather serves as the Assistant Director of the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Kenner, the sixth largest city in Louisiana that is the location of the New Orleans International Airport, and has an LLC where she helps small to mid-sized businesses as well as smaller communities. She is one of fewer than 1,000 Certified Emergency Managers in the entire world and one of less than 11,000 Certified Floodplain Managers in the United States. In addition to her numerous degrees, she has attended training at the Naval Postgraduate School.

Among her accomplishments, Ms. Hilliard has earned federal and local commendations in New Orleans for her contributions to the response of Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav and her role in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. In addition, she worked in the state Department of Health in the 2009 Pandemic Influenza and has worked declared disasters such as F5 tornadoes, international typhoons, earthquakes, and public health epidemics. Ms. Hilliard’s after action report for the international response to a Pacific typhoon was shared with the United Nations to help reshape the way the world responds to catastrophe.

Ms. Hilliard has published several emergency management articles, written, and edited textbooks. She has presented on crisis communications for numerous organizations and the federal government as well as spoken at national conferences with international attendees. Her recent work with floodplain management and related mitigation activities has earned an achievement with the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) improved the municipality's score to increase their preparedness score almost two full ratings. Most recently, Ms. Hilliard was awarded the second largest Region VI FEMA grant for hiring emergency personnel through a nearly $2,000,000 grant she wrote and was awarded. Her grant-writing success has helped non-profits after disasters as well as allowed government entities win numerous federal awards.

Internationally Certified Emergency Manager for ten years (15-year renewal in process) and Nationally Certified Floodplain Manager.

Worked in Department of Health for Pandemic Influenza 2009, identifying the SNS push-pack locations statewide for prophylaxis delivery/dispensation.

Responded to approximately two dozen federally-declared disasters; served with FOSC and SOSC as a member of incident command on several incidents, (including BP Oil Spill/DWH, Manilia Fields, Barataria Bay responses, Mississippi River incidents, others).

Worked on international disasters of typhoons and earthquakes.

Multiple years as USAI representative in our region as well as successful grant award and application.

Advanced PIO certification, with multiple disaster utilization.

Federal law violations research against private firm yielding (in one portion of the verdict and settlement) legal fees awarded in the amount of $18.5 million.

Budget management of approximately $99,854,000 (not including grant awards in the $100m+ range).

Knowledgable in compliance in a variety of regulatory parameters.

Yes

Moderate: Full refund up until 14 days prior to event, except fees (travel and service)