Jason Dotson

About

Emergency Management professional with broad experience across state and local government and the private sector. Adept at creating emergency plans, contingency planning, and developing drills/exercises to improve emergency administration, with strong communication of complex crisis management strategies to professional and non-professional audiences. Proven expertise in plan implementation & evaluation, risk assessment, policy development, staff leadership and training, and coordinating preparedness and response activities across public health and disaster operations.

Experience

• Disaster Program Manager - South Central Chapter · American Red Cross - Kentucky Region08-01-2018

  Responsible for steady-state and disaster program implementation within twenty-two counties. Coordinated volunteer leadership training and development and served as a subject matter expert to community and external agency partners. Supervised one direct report and two office locations. Key Contributions: ● Maintained 80% volunteer engagement among an average of forty volunteers. ● Supported numerous regional and national disaster response operations as a Government Operations Supervisor, including the December 2021 Quad State tornado outbreak.

• Project Manager- Emergency Management & Environmental Health & Safety · Aetna Integrated Services - Columbus, Ohio11-01-2015 – 09-01-2017

  Provided emergency management and environmental health consultancy services to colleges and universities. Conducted facility security assessments and developed OSHA-compliant emergency action plans for 12,000 square-foot corporate headquarters and two branch offices. Key Contributions: ▪ Reviewed and updated emergency plans and procedures for community college system headquarters, representing 110,000 students with 16 colleges and 71 campuses across 40,000 square miles. Advised senior leadership regarding Emergency Management issues. ▪ Designed, facilitated, and evaluated HSEEP-compliant drills and exercises. ▪ Supported environmental health and safety facility assessments and projects, as necessary.

• Regional Preparedness Coordinator · Kentucky Department for Public Health - Frankfort, Kentucky03-01-2012 – 10-01-2015

  Served as state-level public health liaison to a designated region of nine counties with a population of 577k. Coordinated public health emergency preparedness planning, training, and response activities involving mass care (including animals), continuity of operations, pandemic disease, bioterrorism response, fatality management, hospital & long-term care preparedness, and ESF-8 emergency operations Key Contributions: ▪ Served as chair of the regional health department planning committee. ▪ Supported the development of Kentucky’s State Animal Disaster Response plan. ▪ Designed, developed, and evaluated preparedness and response drills and exercise according to Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program criteria. ▪ Responded to local, regional, and statewide public health emergencies operating within ICS and EOC environments.

• Regional Public Health Preparedness Training & Exercise Coordinator · Lexington-Fayette County Health Department – Lexington, Kentucky05-01-2010 – 03-01-2012

  Designed, conducted and evaluated emergency preparedness trainings and exercises for staff and the public. Provided support for evacuation and staff safety planning. Updated and revised agency response plans. Key Contributions: ▪ Served as Unit Leader for 150 member volunteer Medical Reserve Corps unit. ▪ Served as LFCHD’s Deputy Planning Section Chief during 2010 World Equestrian Games and 2011 National Level Exercise. ▪ Initiated departmental response to local and regional disasters while providing guidance to senior leadership. ▪ Served as secretary and local ESF 8 representative for regional Healthcare Coalition, consisting of hospitals and healthcare stakeholders in a 17-county area. ▪ Represented agency at Local Emergency Planning Committee. ▪ Developed, reviewed and delivered training and presentations including basic emergency preparedness, ICS 300/400, and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) to diverse groups of local and state emergency responders. ▪ Co-chaired agency safety committee ▪ Responsible for regional warehouse inventory.

• Emergency Communications Specialist · Arkansas Department of Health – Little Rock, Arkansas08-01-2009 – 04-01-2010

  Served as the agency’s warning point, responsible for providing emergency assistance and response by using communications equipment. Key Contributions: ▪ Acted as communications link between pre-hospital providers and healthcare systems. ▪ Tracked movement of hazardous materials across the state. ▪ Monitored movement of storm systems and other hazardous situations and alerted appropriate emergency personnel as required. ▪ Activated warning sirens at nuclear reactor sites for testing purposes. ▪ Transitioned record keeping from paper system to electronic method.

• Patrol Officer/Corporal · Harding University Department of Public Safety- Searcy, Arkansas08-01-2004 – 08-01-2009

  Provided emergency response and investigative services for a university with 350 acres, 49 buildings (including pre-school and 116 room long term care facility) and enrollment of nearly 5k. Key Contributions: ▪ Supervised weekend & night shift with 2-3 officers, dispatcher and 2-3 student workers. ▪ Directed residential facility fire drills. ▪ Responded to all hazard incidents including medical response, a hazardous materials lab incident, tornado damage, car fires and a residential hall flood. ▪ Provided security for concerts and VIP visits. ▪ Certified as American Heart BLS CPR & First Aid Instructor.

Education

• Arkansas Tech University – Russellville, ArkansasMaster of Science, Emergency Management & Homeland Security
• Harding University – Searcy, ArkansasBachelor of Science, Public Administration
• Harding University – Searcy, ArkansasBachelor of Science, Criminal Justice

Similar talent on Pangea

Natalie L.Emergency Management and Disaster Response Specialist29 Celle, GermanyAaron L.Design, Support, Planning and more!Elgin, ILkkiana L.Experienced Emergency Dispatch OperatorDenver, COTina H.Healthcare Training, TeamSTEPPS, Education and Training, Program Management