Panel to Discuss Critical Incidents at U.Va. Rotunda

March 23, 2012 – A special panel discussion focused on critical incidents will convene Sunday March 25 at 1 p.m in the Dome Room of the University of Virginia’s Rotunda.

Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III will moderate the panel, “Our Culture Confirmed or Confounded – Critical Incidents in the Public Eye.” The talk is sponsored by the U.Va.-based Critical Incident Analysis Group.

Panelists

Steve Tidwell – Executive Director, FBI National Academy

Shaun Casey – Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Director, National Capital Semester for Seminarians (NCSS), Wesley Theological Seminary

SimeonYates – Director of the Cultural, Communication, and Computing Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University (UK)

Jerry DeFrancisco – President, Humanitarian Services, American National Red Cross

Brad Kieserman – Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Each panelist will provide brief remarks related to their wide-ranging experiences in managing and mitigating critical incidents.

Mr. Tidwell will discuss the formation of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and its preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Dr. Casey will discuss the ways in which the academic and religious studies guilds have provided expert advice to the FBI over the past two decades.

Professor Yates will discuss the social media movement and the challenges it brings regarding civil unrest within the United Kingdom.

Mr. DeFrancisco will discuss the unique relationship between the American Red Cross and U.S. government with respect to its response due to critical incidents.

Mr. Kieserman will focus on relevant cases based upon his domestic and international leadership experience within both the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA.

The panel is free, open to the public and will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. For information, contact the Critical Incident Analysis Group office at 434-243-9458 or ciag@virginia.edu.

* Schedule subject to change.