Keynote Speakers*
April 15-17, 2025

Harnessing the Power of AI for Emergency Management

The use of Artificial Intelligence has the ability to change the face of emergency management. How do we harness it for good and counter it’s use for evil though? This session will cover current AI use in EM and look at what the future may hold.

Sarah K. Miller is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) who has worked as an emergency management professional in the Seattle area since 2006. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Emergency Management at Pierce College in Washington. Sarah has worked in public service and public safety for more than 30 years, with a heavy emphasis on technology.

Sarah is active in the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), currently serving as a CEM Commissioner. She is past-President of Region 10 and past-Chair of the Emerging Technology Caucus.

Protecting Elections in Times of Crisis: Planning, Response, and Trust

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs provides a behind-the-scenes look at disaster response as Washington’s chief elections official, highlighting the planning and coordination that keep elections secure. He’ll also explore the growing impact of misinformation and disinformation during crises, sharing key lessons and strategies to protect the electoral process and maintain public trust.

Steve Hobbs is Washington’s 16th Secretary of State. He began his tenure in 2021 and was elected by the people of Washington in 2022. He is the first person of color to serve as Secretary of State and only the second in state history who was born in Washington.

Secretary Hobbs leads one of Washington’s most diverse state-government offices, which is responsible for managing state and local elections, corporation and charity filings, the Washington State Library, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, and the Washington State Archives. In addition, his office oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, the Productivity Board state employee suggestion incentives program, and the Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.

When Secretary Hobbs assumed office, he prioritized greater election security, countering misleading and harmful election disinformation, and expanded voter education and outreach.

Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Critical Infrastructure Planning involves the strategic assessment and management of essential systems and assets that support, telecommunications, and public health. CISA proves guidance to support state, local, tribal, and territorial government partners in identify crucial infrastructure needs to maintain the functions Emergency Managers depend on daily. During this presentation, we will provide an overview of CISA’s mission and highlight several of our no-cost tools and resources.

Arthur Gibson serves as an Industrial Security Specialist for the Emergency Services Section (ESS) for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). His office is responsible for collaborating with sector partners to create goals that represent the sector’s view of how to achieve a secure, protected, and resilient ESS. Arthur is intimately involved in the continuity of operation of ESS. Arthur’s goal is to improve the sustainability and resilience of the sector and increase the speed and efficiency of restoring normal services, level of security, and economic activity following an incident. Mr. Gibson joined DHS after spending 11 years in the U.S. Air Force and other government agencies. During that tenure, Arthur worked in every facet of law enforcement and security. Mr. Gibson has a master’s degree in science Transition Technology from Geroge Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, from Strayer University.