Beginning at the moment he accepted the post of FEMA director, David Paulison had to take over an organization that was under the intense national spotlight, and he had to not only resurrect the reputation of FEMA, he had to produce real world results. Calling on his experience leading teams of rescuers and national organizations, Paulison explains the aspects of leadership that you can't learn in books. His presentation is not based on theories or academic research; rather, he imparts how leaders have to act in moment, when it matters most, and when there is little time to waste. He engages audiences with personal, gripping stories and makes them applicable to every kind of crisis.
As a paramedic, firefighter, and fire chief in the heart of hurricane country, Paulison has a lifetime worth of expertise leading citizens, communities, and organizations through emergencies. With lessons from some of the biggest emergencies and disasters of the last 20 years, including Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, and Rita and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 which crashed in the Everglades, he takes audiences through his personal experiences, imparting principles and practical takeaways that he has learned and developed in times of great difficulty and extreme pressure.
After the largest natural disaster in U.S. history, David Paulison was handpicked to recreate FEMA, the nationwide organization in charge of disaster response. With the viewpoint of a first-responder and career firefighter, he began to immediately reconstruct the organization's culture, installing experienced personnel, instituting a national preparedness network, and securing career posts for regional directors who had on-the-ground experience in emergencies – posts that had traditionally been filled by political appointees. These moves and others made the turnaround of FEMA a textbook case for organizations to study. Paulison delivers a powerful message about the life-and-death decisions and crucial, forward-thinking reforms that he implemented to ensure that the nation is prepared for the next emergency before it gets here.
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