Michael Cooke Named Contingency Planner for Colorado Office of Preparedness

The Office of Preparedness welcomes aboard Michael Cooke. He will be joining the Planning Program team, led by Kerry Kimble, as a Contingency Planner.  

Cooke recently served as a Deputy Emergency Manager for El Paso County during the Waldo Canyon wildfire.  In that role, he also served as the County’s Emergency Watershed Protection Plan Manager working with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Resource Conservation Service, FEMA, Burned Area Emergency Response Team, as well as many others.  He was responsible for storm / flood water response and recovery planning which involved volunteering to be part of the debris removal and mass care / mass casualty planning efforts.  

Cooke is also a 30 year U.S. Army veteran with two tours of duty in Iraq.  His military experience is in the areas of Combat Engineers and Military Police. 

Job Announcement: Office of Preparedness Training Specialist

The Office of Preparedness is seeking a training specialist. The position closes on December 6, 2013 at 5 p.m. The position announcement and application information are posted on the state employment website.

Position Duties Include:

• Provides rural training support through local capacity building, effective education, outreach and gap analyses specific to rural areas, evaluating efficiency and effectiveness in rural areas, review of course content for accuracy as well as relevancy, creating resources and educational tools to support training & exercise planning workshops as necessary in rural areas; conduct training needs assessments, schedule courses, advertise courses, manage applications and the enrollment process, coordinate instructors, instruction materials, and provide facility and lodging logistics to ensure a positive learning experience and repeat attendance of both state and federal training programs.

• Develops effective marketing strategies as well as the development of state, local, federal, and tribal partnerships.

• Works with the Training and Exercise Section to develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance customer service and service delivery to state and local government. Advises Training and Exercise Team in integration of EMI with NDPC and other all-hazards and Homeland Security training and exercise objectives. Develops cost-effective strategies to draw necessary training to rural areas; represent rural interests in development of online and distance learning strategies; ensures course delivery and logistics align with rural needs.

• Provides guidance to the Southwest, San Luis Valley and West All-Hazards Regions by conducting training gap analyses as necessary to enhance service delivery and enhance local and state capabilities to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from an all-hazards incident. In cooperation with the all-hazards regions and state agencies, identifies gaps in training following exercises or actual events and recommend corrective action to close the gaps. Assists in annual state training and exercise planning workshop (TEPW). Integrates technology where appropriate to enhance learning and promote greater access to state training. Facilitate the registration process of state-sponsored course deliveries using the CO-Train portal. Coordinates delivery and record-keeping of National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses delivered to state and local government to ensure NIMS compliance. Provides guidance in the development of a system for assessing instructor performance.

• Serves as the DHSEM Point of Contact with the Incident Management Teams that operate out of Colorado and the State and Regional Wildland Fire/Incident Management Academies; ensures alignment of information as it impacts cross-agency training and exercises.

• Assists state incident management teams in coordinating team exercises, when requested. Identifies and promotes shadowing opportunities for incident management team personnel in need of incident experience.

• When requested develops position-specific training plans for IMT personnel; coordinate out of state travel for IMT personnel in Colorado; coordinate delivery of IMT conferences or workshops; provide IMT support during activation to better discern team needs and gaps; assist IMT's with after action reviews and development of corrective action plans using HSEEP criteria;

• Develops and administers the Division personal training plan program.

• Responds as needed during times of National, State, Regional or locally declared emergencies where a request has been received by the DHSEM to provide disaster response services.

• This position may be required to report to the State Emergency Operations Center or another state or local jurisdiction to respond to local jurisdictions’ requests for resources and disaster-related support.

Office of Preparedness Hiring a Training and Exercises Specialist

The Office of Preparedness is currently hiring a Training and Exercise Specialist.  View the position details and application process at http://bit.ly/18q6ygf.   The position closes on October 22, 2013 at 5 p.m.

Position Description

Develops a robust training program to enhance state and local capabilities to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from an all-hazards incident that comports with the State Homeland Security Strategy.

Acts as DHSEM Training and Exercise Regional Point of Contact for the North Central Region.  Reviews regional and local training plans and provides advice regarding appropriate direct delivery of courses provided by the NDPC. Develops and implements a strategic plan for cross-coordination across all relevant state and federal agencies.

Compiles metrics of the state’s training program to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness, and takes corrective action when necessary to close any gaps or shortfalls. Reviews course content for accuracy as well as relevancy to internal and external stakeholders.

Conducts training needs assessments, schedules courses, advertises courses, manages applications and the enrollment process, coordinates instructors, instruction materials, and provides facility and lodging logistics to ensure a positive learning experience and repeat attendance of both state and federal training programs. Increases the visibility of the Division’s training programs through development of an effective marketing structure that will not only encapsulate current practices (such as: COEmergency and the Division website) but also through the development of partnerships with state, local, federal, and tribal partnerships.

Ensures compliance with Federal grant guidance and other regulations when expending grant monies.

Delivers training as a subject-matter-expert where appropriate, using proper instructional methods that comport with adult learning principals.

Maintains professional competency through completing required professional certifications and licensures. Works with the Training and Exercise Section to develop and implement policies and procedures. Advises Training and Exercise Team in integration of NDPC with EMI and other all-hazards and homeland security training and exercise objectives.

Provides guidance to local jurisdictions by training gap analyses as necessary to enhance service delivery and enhance local and state capabilities to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from an all-hazards incident.

In cooperation with the all-hazards regions and state agencies, identifies gaps in training following exercises or actual events and recommends corrective action to close the gaps. Facilitates annual state training and exercise planning workshop (TEPW) to help establish a multi-year training and exercise calendar. Integrates technology where appropriate to enhance learning and promote greater access to state training.

Facilitates the registration process of state-sponsored course deliveries using the CO-Train portal.

Coordinates delivery and record-keeping of National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses delivered to state and local government to ensure NIMS compliance.

Provides guidance in the development of a system for assessing instructor performance and gauging the quality of instructional material. Maintains a depth of knowledge in each core concentration as identified by the Training and Exercise Section to maximize customer service and service delivery to state and local government.

Responds as needed during times of National, State, Regional or locally declared emergencies where a request has been received by the DHSEM to provide disaster response services. This position may be required to report to the State Emergency Operations Center or another state or local jurisdiction to respond to local jurisdictions’ requests for resources and disaster-related support.