1:00 PM WELCOME: SHIFTING THE MINDSET

Disasters are local. Response begins locally, and recovery continues long after national attention has moved on. EM2026 examines how federal, state and local leaders, and industry can build a faster, more adaptive, technologically capable emergency management system—and move the conversation toward building capability.

Kristina Tanasichuk, Executive Editor, Homeland Security Today, CEO, Government Technology & Services Coalition

Eric Leckey, Managing Director, Business and Government Relations, Ceres; former Associate Administrator, Mission Support, FEMA 

1:05 PM – 1:35 Opening Keynote: The Future of Emergency Preparedness 

The Honorable Cameron Hamilton, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

1:35 PM–2:15 PM — FROM READY TO RESILIENT — The Next Generation of Local Disaster Capability

Preparedness must move beyond plans, grants, and exercises to the capabilities individuals and communities need when normal systems fail. This session examines how the federal government, states, localities, and industry can strengthen preparedness, build local resilience, use technology and data more effectively, and ensure rural and underserved communities have the capabilities they need.

David Arnold, Associate Administrator, Office of Response and Recovery, FEMA

Chas Eby, Deputy Secretary of Emergency Management, State of Maryland 
Nuamy E. Achécar Martínez, MA, CHPA-IV, Co-Founder & Lead Consultant, OSETI Corp. 
Doctoral Researcher – Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management, Universidad del Conocimiento e Investigación (UNICI), Puerto Rico

Aaron Miller, Deputy County Manager, Arlington County, VA

Rosemary McDonnell, DPS, MPS, Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Homeland Security, St. John's University

2:15 PM–3:30 PM —  BUYING AT THE SPEED OF DISASTER — Ordering What the Mission Needs When It Matters Most 

Disaster procurement should anticipate what will be needed and position capabilities before they become urgent. This session examines how the federal government and its partners can accelerate acquisition, pre-position contracts, expand access to innovative companies, and deliver the right commodities and technologies at the right price with appropriate accountability.

Jeff Jackson, Head of Contracting Activity, FEMA

Julia Moline, Assistant Administrator for Logistics Management, FEMA

Lester Ingol, COO, Blue Line Global; former Deputy Head of Contracting Activity, FEMA

Bobby McCane, former Chief Procurement Officer, FEMA

3:30 PM–3:45 PM —  BREAK

3:45 PM–4:35 PM — THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT — Technology, Innovation, and Capability from the Ground Up From “What Happened?” to “We Already Know.”

Emerging technologies can dramatically shorten the time between disaster impact, situational awareness, damage assessment, decision-making, and recovery. This session examines how drones, satellite imagery, geospatial intelligence, predictive models, field data, and AI can create near-real-time disaster intelligence and move proven technologies from pilots into operational use.

David Arnold, Associate Administrator, Office of Response and Recovery, FEMA

Grady Joseph, TerraFort 
Dan Zent, North American Manager, COBRA Implementation and Support, Dynamis 

4:35 PM–5:35 PM — FROM DIGITAL TO DISASTER-READY — Turning Technology into Operational Advantage

EM2020 examined technology and the emergency management mission; EM2026 asks whether technology can fundamentally change how that mission is delivered. This session examines how AI, predictive analytics, geospatial intelligence, drones, cloud platforms, interoperable data, mobile capability, automation, and cyber resilience can improve decisions, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen operational outcomes.

Julie Waters, Acting Chief Data Officer, FEMA

Rebekah Mena, Chief of Staff, Office of the Assistant City Administrator for Government Operations, District of Columbia

Christine Palmer, Federal Civilian Sector Chief Technology Officer, Peraton