First secretary of Homeland Security to address disaster conference

Tom Ridge, the nation’s first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former governor of Pennsylvania, will speak at The International Disaster Conference & Expo (IDCE2012), which will be held January 17-19, 2012, in New Orleans, La. Ridge’s opening session address will discuss the evolution of America‘s emergency management response since the attacks of 9/11.

Ridge’s speech will be delivered on the morning of the opening session of the conference, following a keynote address from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. The morning program kicks off IDCE2012, which will bring together public and private emergency management professionals from all industry sectors and from around the world for one of the emergency and disaster industry’s most substantive and important meetings and expositions ever.

“Collaboration and seamless integration between the public and private sectors are vital components of emergency management,” said Ridge. “I look forward to my visit at the IDCE in January to engage with professionals at the forefront of this issue, as we continue to refine strategies and practices that will effectively meet future disaster challenges.”

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Ridge became the first asistant to the President for Homeland Security and on January 24, 2003, the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. During his tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods; instituted layered security at air, land and seaports; developed a unified national response and recovery plan; protected critical infrastructure; integrated new technology; and improved information sharing worldwide. Ridge served as Secretary of the agency until February 1, 2005.

As president and CEO of Ridge Global, Ridge leads a team of international experts that help businesses and governments address a range of needs throughout their organizations, including risk management, global trade security, emergency preparedness and response, strategic growth, infrastructure protection, technology integration, crisis management and other issues that encompass a diverse portfolio.

“It is an honor to have Tom Ridge join us,” said Pat Santos, director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Louisiana. “He has served this country most of his life – as a war veteran, a member of congress and governor. As the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, it was his responsibility to ensure our country was protected from future terrorist threats following the 9/11 attacks. As the head of Louisiana’s homeland security and emergency preparedness agency, I welcome his expertise on security and crisis management.”

The International Disaster Conference and Exposition (IDCE21012), to be held January 17-19, 2012, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, will bring together emergency management, homeland security and disaster industry professionals from the public and private sectors around the world to share lessons learned and forward thinking regarding the policies, procedures and best practices shaping disaster preparation, response and recovery, loss mitigation, business continuity and more.

“Tom Ridge is the pioneer of modern day homeland security practices,” said Jimmy Mouton, IDCE2012 show organizer and president of Imago Tradeshows. “We are excited to have his commitment to participate with other key industry figures in this most important of industry conferences.”