This week we welcome Tom Robertson who directs the North America operations of The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS), where he founded the TIEMS USA local chapter. He is Technical Manager for TIEMS in the European Union ASSET Program, which is developing improved, participatory approaches to pandemic response. He is also leading the TIEMS initiative, Disaster Resilience Establishment in Vulnerable Societies (DREVS). Tom is Founder and Principal at Thinking Teams, an international consultancy to leaders and organizations seeking high performance teams dealing with complexity, uncertainty, and risk. His clients include BAE Systems, The European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and The Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies. He is active in the Oregon Organizational Development Network's Community Consulting Program, which specializes in making not-for-profit organizations more effective. Tom earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, where he did research in bioengineering, communications, and artificial intelligence. At Bell Laboratories he developed new techniques for monitoring and trouble-shooting system failures. He performed and led advanced research and development in simulation, image processing, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and systems engineering in roles including Associate Technical Group Director, BAE Systems; Director, Advanced Information Sciences Division at The Analytic Sciences Corporation; Director of Engineering and Chief Scientist at Lockheed Martin Advanced Simulation Centre; and Vice President/General Manager at Atlantic Aerospace. The Z-Man and I met Tom at the TIEMS Conference held at Purdue last year. We were impressed with the speaker lineup and the collaboration with the disaster restoration and demolition industries at what has primarily been an academic conference. LEARN MORE about TIEMS and large scale emergency response this week on IAQ Radio!