M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management Program Participates in Aviation Exercise 

Members of the M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management program, including Jesse Spearo, Ph.D., CEM, FPEM, FMI, adjunct associate professor, and students Danielle Arias, Jerri Clairday, and Gregory Kimble, were involved in a massive, full-scale training exercise at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL).

The training, which is required by all airports every three years as part of the Federal Aviation Administration 139, simulated an aircraft crash while testing the capabilities of the airport, first responders, and mutual-aid assets. The multisite exercise at FLL brought together nearly 100 volunteers and more than 200 first responders in the simulated event.

“Planning for FLL’s exercise began more than a year before the scheduled date, but it had to be rescheduled and modified due to the ongoing pandemic,” Spearo said. “In the end, the exercise was a great success for the airport and public safety first responders. Additionally, volunteers overwhelmingly indicated how great the experience was for them, including our students.”