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Ensuring the Integrity & Excellence of the IAEM Certification Program

All Certification Commissioners hold a current CEM certification.

Certification Commission Leadership

Michelle Oblinsky, CEM - Commission Chair - Completing Term December 31, 2026

Ross Patterson, CEM - Commission Vice Chair - Completing Term December 31, 2026

 

Certification Commissioners by Class

Class of 2028

Serving through December 31, 2028

  • Kevin Cunningham, CEM - Senior Director | Equinix, CA (First Term - Private Sector/Critical Infrastructure/Healthcare)
  • David Day, CEM –Manager, Emergency & Safety Services, St. John's, NL, Canada (Second Term – IAEM Canada)
  • Joseph Ellis, CEM- Director of Emergency Management | City of Garland, TX (First Term - Critical Infrastructure)
  • Tracy Friend, CEM- Program Manager | CDM Smith, VA (First Term - Contractor/Consultant/Academia/Not-for-Profit)
  • Sean Holland, CEM– Manager, Airport Operations Center – JFK | The Port Authority of NY & NJ, NJ (Second Term – State)
  • Andrew Jacobs, II, CEM- Deputy Director | Hoke County Emergency Management, NC (First Term - Local/Private Sector)
  • George Karagiannis, CEM–Risk and Resilience Director, International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, Greece (Second Term Term – IAEM-Europa)
  • Randy Linthicum, CEM- Deputy Director | Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (First Term - Public Health/Local/State)
  • Lanita Lloyd, CEM– GA Director | The Salvation Army, GA (Second Term – Non-Profit)
  • Sarah Miller, CEM– Assistant Professor/Department Chair | Pierce College, WA (Second Term – Consultant)
  • Jeremy Swartz, CEM- Emergency Management Preparedness Specialist | DHS/FEMA, Region 5, IN (First Term - State/Academia/Critical Infrastructure)
  • Gary Teeler, CEM– Captain - Public Safety Support Services | Lower Colorado River Authority, TX (Second Term – Non-Profit)
  • Kevin Wowk, CEM- Emergency Management Officer | Alberta Health Services, EMS, Canada (First Term - Canada Council)

Class of 2027

Serving through December 31, 2027

  • Shad Ahmed, CEM – Emergency Management | Oregon City, OR (Second Term – Local EM)
  • Allison Bain, CEM – Commander, 633rd Medical Support Squadron | United States Air Force, Newport News, VA (First Term – Military & Healthcare)
  • Kathy Brown, CEM – Deputy Director | Union County EMA, Marysville, OH (First Term – Local EM)
  • Lawrence Cattano, Jr., CEM – Director OEM | City of Perth Amboy, NJ (Second Term – Local EM)
  • Daniel Dunn, Jr., CEM – Operations Officer | United States Coast Guard, Waterford, CT (Second Term – Military)
  • Toni Hauser, CEM – Supervisor, Emergency Preparedness & Response | Minneapolis Health Department, MN (First Term – Healthcare)
  • Bryon Piatt, CEM – University Emergency Manager | University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (First Term – Campus)
  • Michael Riedy, CEM – Installation Emergency Manager (EMO) | Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Lake Stevens, WA (Second Term – Federal)
  • Tim Smith, CEM – Retired | Smith Emergency Management Associates, Hickory, NC (First Term – Academia & Federal)
  • Michael Stitley, CEM – Director of Emergency Response | Tompkins County Dept. of Emergency Response, NY (First Term – Healthcare)

Class of 2026

Serving through December 31, 2026

  • Christopher Ainsworth, CEM, MBA – Executive Officer, KP3 Collaboration, Australia (Second Term – IAEM-Oceania)
  • Billy Anderson, CEM – Fire Inspector, Wilmer Fire Department | Wilmer, TX (First Term – Local)
  • David Bujak, CEM – Senior Planner | IEM, OH (First Term – Campus)
  • Billy (B.J.) Dvorak, CEM – Coordinator | Linn County Emergency Management, IA (Second Term – At-Large)
  • Peter Hirai, CEM – Emergency Management Specialist | U.S. Marine Corps Installations - Pacific (Second Term – Military)
  • William Hurtes, CEM – Owner | HTC International, VA (First Term – Consultant/Not-for-Profit)
  • Douglas Mayne, CEM – Senior Consultant, Disaster Management | Witt O'Brien's LLC, WA (Second Term – Military & State)
  • Ralph Nazzaro, CEM – Senior Homeland Security Analyst | Ascenttra, VA (First Term – Healthcare)
  • Michelle Oblinsky, CEM – Strategy and Transformation Manager | Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management, VA (Second Term – State)
  • Ross Patterson, CEM – Emergency Management Coordinator | Winston Salem/Forsyth County, NC (Second Term – Not-for-Profit)
  • Michael Ripley, CEM – Santa Clarita, CA (Second Term – At-Large)

Support Operations

Heather Long, CEM - (Term ends, 12/31/26)

Libby Turner, CEM – Turner Associates, LLC, GA (Term ends, 12/31/2027)

Ex-Officio Appointments

NEMA Representative – Open

FEMA Representative – Open

Board & Staff Liaisons

Board Liaison

Dustin Willett, CEM | IAEM-USA Region 8 President, Rapid City, SD | USARegion8President@iaem.com

Staff Liaison

Terry Lightheart-Sadler, CEM, QAS | Program Manager, IAEM |  Falls Church, VA | terry@iaem.com