From Desk to Deployment: How Field Experience Amplifies Organizational Preparedness and Resilience - Hannah Winant

This session will explore the critical value of deploying emergency management staff to gain hands-on experience through real-world responses, with a special focus on lessons learned from Arlington County staff deployments via intragovernmental aid and EMAC requests. While the upfront costs in time and resources for staff deployments can be high, these short-term sacrifices yield immense long-term returns for the individual and organization. Attendees will learn how deployment experiences align with FEMA Core Competencies, contribute to practical skills and initiatives that drive agency resilience, and increase employee confidence and capabilities. We will showcase real examples of EMAC deployment benefits, from newly implemented operational procedures to enhanced coordination skills, illustrating how on-the-ground exposure can transform theoretical knowledge into practical, life-saving expertise.