Marin
Sonoma
Napa
Solano
Contra Costa
Alameda
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
San Mateo
San Francisco
Oakland
San Jose
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Meet the Bay Area UASI Management Team
Managing the work of the Bay Area UASI is a dedicated and highly skilled Management Team.
Laura Phillips, General Manager
Laura Phillips is responsible for the implementation of Bay Area UASI Approval Authority policies and goals. She determines and develops all operational activities; evaluates administrative reports and related documents; and prepares and administers grants and associated budgetary functions, including analysis and justification to the Approval Authority. She is also responsible for grant compliance activities. She briefs the Approval Authority on special matters and events; coordinates with other entities toward project completion; defines and manages the Approval Authority outreach efforts related to public information to accomplish the mission and purpose; and confers with legal counsel, securing legal assistance as needed. Laura has almost 30 years of experience in Public Safety and served as Director of San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management prior to her selection as General Manager of the UASI Program. She was the Technical Services Manager of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety for 10 years, and has an additional 17 years of combined experience with the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. Laura formerly served as Project Co-Director for the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Project and as Chair of its Technical Subcommittee for Radio Interoperability. She has served in leadership roles for various professional organizations, such as the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the Computerized CLETS Users Group (CCUG), and others.
Caryn Thornburg, Project Manager
Medical Surge; Mass Prophylaxis
Caryn Thornburg is responsible for the administration and management of the Medical Surge and Mass Prophylaxis initiatives. Prior to her appointment as Project Manager, Caryn was an active participant in the working groups and RFP processes for the Medical Surge, Mass Prophylaxis, and Mass Care & Shelter initiatives. Most recently ValleyCare Health System’s Emergency Management & Hazardous Materials Coordinator, Caryn has 30 years of experience in healthcare, logistics, medical planning, and emergency response in both civilian and military arenas. She has trained others in a wide range of topics, including Incident Command Systems (ICS), Weapons of Mass Destruction Responder Operations, Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Retired after 24 years of service with the U.S. Army, Caryn is a licensed vocational nurse.
Guy Bernardo, Project Manager
Emergency Management Mutual Aid (EMMA) Initiative; Community Preparedness and Resiliency; Public Information and Crisis Communications
Guy Bernardo has been with the UASI management team since its creation in 2006, with responsibilities in Training & Exercise and Interoperable Communications. He is currently responsible for the administration and management of the Emergency Management Mutual Aid (EMMA) Initiative; Community Preparedness and Resiliency; and Public Information and Crisis Communications. A native of the Bay Area, Guy recently retired from the San Jose Police Department after more than 29 years of service. He has worked a wide range of operational and administrative assignments with a focus on the training and professional development of law enforcement personnel. He was previously assigned to the San Jose Office of Emergency Services as a program manager for the San Jose Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
Skip Shervington, Project Manager
Mass Transportation & Evacuation; Debris Management
Skip Shervington is a lieutenant with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and has been with the UASI management team from its creation in 2006, with responsibilities in Training & Exercise and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) initiatives. Skip is currently responsible for the administration and management of regional mass transportation, mass evacuation and debris removal initiatives which are being funded through the Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program (RCPGP). Skip joined the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office 23 years ago after serving three years overseas as a U.S. Army Military Police Officer. Skip has worked many assignments in his career and prior to becoming a UASI management team member he was responsible for managing State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) training and exercise initiatives within his operational area of Santa Clara County.
Rocky Medeiros, Project Manager
Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program (RCPGP)
Rocky Medeiros has been with the UASI management team since its creation in 2006, with responsibilities in CBRNE; Information Sharing (TEWG/RTTAC); and Infrastructure Protection initiatives. Rocky is currently responsible for the administration of all initiatives under the Regional Catastrophic Grant Program. He is a 23-year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and currently holds the rank of Commander. He has worked a wide variety of assignments during his tenure. Since 1999 these assignments focused primarily on Homeland Security issues as well as emergency response.
Dave Hober, Project Manager
Information Sharing (NCRIC); Infrastructure Protection
Dave Hober is a San Jose Police Captain responsible for the administration of the Information Sharing and Infrastructure Protection initiatives. He has been with the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) since 1988. During Dave's tenure with the SJPD, he has had a variety of assignments in patrol, special operations, investigations and the office of the chief. Prior to being assigned to the UASI management team, Dave commanded patrol Special Operations Units and the Special Investigations Unit. Dave holds graduate degrees in Criminal Justice Administration and Public Administration.
Terry Betts, Project Manager
Interoperable Communications
Terry Betts has almost 30 years of experience in communications in the Bay Area. He spent 15 years with Alameda County Communications as a technician, Project Manager and Systems Manager. While with Alameda County, Terry installed the Livermore/Pleasanton trunking system in 1988, the first trunking system in Alameda County. In addition, Terry was the Project Manager for the installation of Alameda County’s current communication system in 1992; a 21-channel, 800Mhz trunking system. Terry served as System Manager for both these systems until 1996, when he became Communication Systems Manager at the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. While there, he upgraded the Dispatch Center from an eight-position PSAP to its current 27 positions. He was also instrumental in expanding the Sheriff’s Office mobile data system from five sites with 75 users to 16 sites and 500 users in 15 agencies. While with the Sheriff’s Office, Terry also served as Contra Costa’s 911 Coordinator. Terry has extensive experience in digital and analog microwave systems, PSAP consoles, telephone and 911 systems and videoconferencing. Terry is a certified ENP (Emergency Number Professional), and is past President of the Northern California chapter of APCO and currently co-chairs the Capitol/Bay Planning Area for the CalSIEC. Terry has been with the UASI since April 2008.
Joe Gomez, Project Manager
Training & Exercise
Joe Gomez is responsible for the administration and management of Training & Exercise initiatives. This includes the annual exercises of Golden Guardian and Urban Shield. He has 26 years of law enforcement experience with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and holds the rank of Captain. Joe has worked a variety of operational/administrative assignments in his career with an emphasis on patrol, training, planning and research, law enforcement accreditation, and contract development/management.
Colin Elrod, Project Manager
Community & Economic Resiliency
Colin Elrod is a Manager with the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management and joined the UASI in 2008. He is responsible for initiatives focusing on Community and Economic Resiliency. After a decade in local law enforcement, Colin transitioned to the private sector where he held senior management positions in three Fortune 200 companies headquartered in Silicon Valley. Over the next two decades, Colin’s worldwide corporate responsibility included partnership and liaison with governments in over 60 countries, including Federal, State and Local agencies in the US. His corporate responsibilities included collaboration with internal and external experts for programs addressing critical infrastructure protection, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), business continuity and recovery, complex investigations, ethics and compliance, data and personal privacy, cyber security, logistics and supply chain security and matters having a material impact on the company’s performance. Among a number of public sector initiatives, Colin participated on the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, the G8 Sub Committee on Trans National High Tech Crime and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Private Sector Liaison Committee.
Jeff Blau, Project Manager
Interoperable Communications (BayRICS)
Jeff Blau is responsible for the management and administration of the Interoperability Communications initiatives. Jeff is part of the team focused on the BayRICS project and the lead Project Manager for the COPS2007 Technology Grant. Jeff served as the Northern California APCO (NAPCO) Vendor Chairperson for several years during his 28 years in the private sector. His involvement with NAPCO provided him a unique experience teaming with representatives from several Northern California Public Safety Agencies. Jeff played a key role promoting Interoperability to representatives of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties resulting in the first RCS in the Bay Area, now known as EBRCSA (East Bay Regional Communication System Authority).
Mary Landers, Regional Planning Manager
Mary Landers is responsible for the development of policies, plans, and procedures for the Bay Area UASI program Grant Unit and coordinating the legislative and contractual elements of the UASI’s various grant programs totaling in excess of $153 million dollars. Under the direction of the Director of Strategy and Grant Compliance, she acts as a liaison to the cities and counties to ensure compliance and is a point of contact to State and Federal grant representatives. Mary, a Bay Area native, has eight years of contractual and legislative experience with the City and County of San Francisco. Prior to joining the UASI Management Team, Mary managed Homeland Security Grant funds for the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management and served as a Legislative Aide to a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Before her service to the City and County of San Francisco, Mary had an 18-year career with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC-TV) in the Broadcast Operations Division., receiving an Emmy award for her work on the 1984 Olympic Games.
Neal Taniguchi, Chief Financial Officer and RCPGP Grants Administrator
Neal Taniguchi recently joined the SUASI management team as a grants administrator for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant, which is managed by the Bay Area SUASI. As an administrator for the RCPGP project, Neal facilitates the implementation and completion of the grant program, and ensures that the program expenditures remain within the grant guidelines. Prior to joining the SUASI, Neal worked with the City and County of San Francisco for over 20 years, serving the Board of Supervisors, Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer, the Superior Court, and Building Inspection in various financial capacities. His most extensive experience was with the San Francisco Superior Court, where he served for almost 10 years as Chief Fiscal Officer, overseeing 22 staff members and a $100 million operating and capital budget.
Teresa Serata, Director of Strategy and Grant Compliance
Teresa Serata is responsible for reviewing, recommending, and evaluating strategies for the financial and administrative management of grants, including the roles of partnership entities, systems for grants monitoring and reporting, compliance, and performance management. At the direction of the General Manager and UASI Approval Authority, she is responsible for developing a coordinated strategy for the successful execution of UASI policy and directives and implementation of projects and initiatives funded by multiple grant programs exceeding $153M. In addition, she is responsible for developing and directing the establishment of policies, procedures, and mechanisms to assure the management of risks related to grant compliance and coordinating grant planning and development, including but not limited to crafting and reviewing investment justifications, working with State and Federal Grant Program Administrators, and collaborating with representatives from other UASI jurisdictions. Teresa has 23 years of strategic planning and financial management experience with the City and County of San Francisco. Prior to joining the UASI Management Team, she oversaw the Grants Management Unit in the Department of Emergency Management managing both the UASI and Homeland Security Grant Programs. Teresa was formerly the Chief Financial Officer for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the Director of Finance for the Mayor of San Francisco. She began her local government career as a Health Program Planner for the San Francisco Department of Health. Teresa holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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The Bay Area SUASI Dispatch is a quarterly newsletter that provides information about the people and projects of the Bay Area Super Urban Area Security Initiative (SUASI). The Bay Area SUASI enhances regional capability through regional collaboration: to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist incidents and other catastrophic events in the 10-county region.
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 This project is supported by Award No. 4123-06, awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Grants & Training (G&T). The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Homeland Security.
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