Dr. Audrey Heffron Casserleigh is the Director of the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University, and the Director of the Online Emergency Management Program in the College of Social Sciences at Florida State University. As Center Director Dr. Heffron Casserleigh manages the intersection of academic research and government projects for a variety of agencies including FEMA, Health and Human Sciences, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Areas of dedicated research include man made disasters and the organizational behavior of terrorist networks.

Dr.Heffron Casserleigh has written over 20 articles and appears in the press on MSNBC and the AP. She has served as a lecturer and consultant to the US Department of State, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korean Secret Service, Chinese Academy of Sciences, American and International Red Cross, Ghanian National Disaster Agency and the Italian National Emergency Management Organization. She currently serves on the Directorate Board for the International Society for Crisis and Emergency Management (ISCEM).

David F. Merrick is the Deputy Director for the Center for Disaster Risk Policy and an Adjunct Instructor in the Emergency Management Academic Program at Florida State University. As Deputy Director, Mr. Merrick is responsible for managing a $1.4 million research and instructional budget as well as client and project management. Landmark projects have included a nationwide disaster housing resource program for FEMA, extensive training and exercises for the US Department of Health and Human Services Senior Leadership, development of a groudbreaking Special Needs registration program, and the internationally acclaimed TEST (Tabletop Exercise System Technology) used in the United States, Philippines, Korea, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.

Mr. Merrick is a recognized expert in disaster technology systems and has over fifteen years of experience in software design and development. He has conducted extensive research on exercise design and evaluation, special needs populations during a disaster, and the ideological franchising and expansion of terrorist organizations. Mr. Merrick has been sponsored by the US Department of State to conduct emergency management training in Ghana, and had presented research around the world, including Prague in 2008 and recently at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

Courses taught at FSU include Introduction to Terrorism: Preparedness and Response, as well as Sunshine State of Emergency and Public Health and Emergency Management. Mr. Merrick has also extensively guest lectured in the Advanced Topics in Terrorism course.

Mr. Merrick is a current member of the International Emergency Managers Association (IAEM) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS).

Janet Dilling (MPA, PhD) is the Senior Advisor to the Center for Disaster Risk Policy and the current Director of the Emergency Management Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate Programs at Florida State University. She is a principal faculty member for the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy's emergency management curriculum. Janet also serves as a project manager and project leader for the Center for Disaster Risk Policy, where she has worked for over 11 years.

Outside of CDRP, Janet serves as President of the Tallahassee-based company, TEAM Simulations LLC, which has been given an exclusive commercialization license by the FSU Research Foundation to expand marketing of a first-of-its-kind, computer-based disaster exercise system known as TEST (Tabletop Exercise System Technology). TEST, created and refined by researchers at FSU's Center for Disaster Risk Policy, was designed to simplify the development, delivery and reporting processes that often make disaster-planning exercises unwieldy.

Rob McDaniel is currently a Faculty Researcher and Chief of Operations at the Center for Disaster Risk Policy, Florida State University. Rob is a graduate of Florida State University, the U.S. Air Force Air War College curriculum and holds a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management. He provides operations, planning, training and exercise expertise in emergency management on local, state, federal and non-profit agency projects. Mr. McDaniel also supplies technical assistance in Domestic Security/Preparedness and specializes in Exercise Design/Development and Bio-Terrorism response. Mr. McDaniel is a Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) instructor and has spearheaded several large statewide exercises. He is principle author and instructor of the nationally recognized "Planning Considerations for Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents" curriculum at the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute. Having previously served in operations, training, exercises and evaluations with the United States Air Force, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Health, the St. Petersburg College and several private consulting firms, Mr. McDaniel has actively participated in hundreds of crisis situations.

Jarrett Broder (MS) is the Director of Information Technology at the Center for Disaster Risk Policy. He has 11 years experience in the Information Technology field as a network administrator, server administrator, systems administrator, web master, programmer, project manager, graphic designer and provider of technical consultation and support to both public and private sector organizations. Mr. Broder has been a key member in a group of programmers and designers that have built several enterprise level federal web applications which have received recognition from the governor of Florida and the President of the United States. His 7 years participation in state and federal exercise programs give him a well rounded understanding of the state and federal models for training and testing as well as the key role technology can play in the dissemination and management of training materials. Mr. Broder has built several computer applications that have assisted in the planning and real-time play of many exercises including, The Bioshield Exercises (Strategic National Stockpile), Beleaguered Bus (Florida Department of Health) and Caduceus Shield. He has also been involved with furthering the distance learning efforts of several colleges at Florida State University. Mr. Broder serves as an adjunct instructor for technology related classes at the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University.

Jim Jackson is a project manager for emergency management, planning, training and curriculum development for the center. His responsibilities include business development, project design, development, and management. Based out of Crocket, Texas, Jim serves as the Houston County Office of Emergency Management Exercise Training Officer, where he designs, develops, conducts and evaluates emergency management/Homeland Security exercises for this county and its cities. Jim formerly served as the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services State Exercise Training Officer and Public Information Officer for the State of Idaho and its forty-four (44) counties.

Sue Sullivan (MA) is the Center's Business Manager and has been with the Center for 7 years. She received her undergraduate and Master's degrees at the University of Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts. She is responsible for the business functions of the Center, including budgeting, payroll, human resources, purchasing and travel.

Danny is a graduate assistant with CDRP and a full-time student at Florida State University. He is an integral part of the Center and assists with research, preparation of project deliverables, courier services and general office processes. He is expected to graduate with a degree in International Affairs Spring of 2008.

Dr. Brower is an Associate Professor and serves as Director of the Center for Civic and Nonprofit Leadership. His research and teaching interests include organization behavior and theory, qualitative research methods, organizational change and development, nonprofit management, and capacity building in the independent sector.