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Instructor Biographies


NDPTC's cadre of instructors are of the highest caliber, very well-respected in their fields and disciplines. Many have advanced degrees in science, engineering, planning, and architecture, and years of practical experience as leaders within their field of expertise.

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Photo of Kacmarik, Diane

Diane Kacmarik

Diane is a broadcast meteorologist at a 24-hour local news and weather TV station in Tampa Bay. Her job also includes forecasting for several radio stations and two newspapers. She has over 25 years of experience forecasting severe and tropical weather. Diane regularly gives talks to adult groups and schools about hurricanes.

Diane started her meteorological career at Penn State University, PA, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. Her first job as a meteorologist was at Air Science Consultants in Bridgeville, PA where she did radio forecasts for cities in the U.S. and Canada and wrote forecasts for several large newspapers. At the same time, Diane's did weekend weather in Steubenville, OH. Then Diane spent a couple years at WATE in Knoxville TN. She became the Chief Meteorologist at Lexington, Kentucky's WLEX. Then she was at WDAF-TV in Kansas City, MO, before coming to the Tampa Bay area as a meteorologist for WTSP. Diane has been part of the Bay News 9's Weather Experts team since 2004, and has been covering all of the tropical storms and hurricanes that have impacted Florida since 2000.

Diane is a member of the American Meteorological Society, holding its Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal, and a member of the National Weather Association.

Photo of Karrick, Bryan

Bryan Karrick

Bryan grew up in the southern suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota, and traveled an hour and a half southwest to Mankato State University to follow his dream of working with weather and the sciences. During his junior year, he turned that lifelong dream into a reality by accepting the weekend weather position at local CBS affiliate KEYC-TV. He spent 12 years as the morning meteorologist at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. Not only was he a storm-chaser tracking numerous tornadoes during his tenure, but he was also given a chance to work with KCCI’s sister stations in New Orleans Orlando helping with hurricane coverage, including Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne during the busy 2004 hurricane season. In 2010, Bryan returned to his hometown, where he was part of a team of meteorologists who launched the national weather channel WeatherNation TV. Karrick’s weather experience and continuing education earned him the National Weather Association’s (NWA) Seal of Approval, and he was honored to be named NWA Broadcaster of the Year in 2009. Bryan remains active in the NWA and is currently serving on the organization's board. He also holds the American Meteorological Society’s CBM Seal of Approval. Karrick was honored to be named “Best Weathercaster” by the Florida Associated Press in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He is certified in Tornado Awareness, Hurricane Awareness, Flooding Hazards & Awareness, and Coastal Hazards by the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

Photo of Kealoha, Earle

Earle Kealoha

Earle Kealoha retired as a captain with the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) after more than 30 years of service including four years as an original member of their Hazardous Materials Response Team and five years working in their Occupational Safety and Health Office.

Earle completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s initial “All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT)” course and position specific training for Logistics, Public Information Officer (PIO), and Safety Officer as well. From 2006-2010, Earle served as one of the HFD’s “Back-up PIOs”. During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperative held in Honolulu in 2011, Earle served as a member of the HFD’s AHIMT as its Incident Safety Officer.

Earle has completed courses conducted by other National Domestic Preparedness Consortium organizations. They include the Center for Domestic Preparedness WMD Incident Command Course in 2000; Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Technical Operations Course conducted by the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (2003); WMD Radiological/Nuclear Course for Hazardous Materials Technicians conducted by what is now known as the Center for Radiological Training or CTOS (2005); and the Advanced Incident Management/Unified Command course conducted by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (2008).

He received an associate of science in Fire Science from HCC in 1985, a bachelor of science in Public Administration from UH West Oahu in 1987 and a Masters in Public Administration from University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2006. Earle completed the National Fire Academy’s rigorous four-year Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and received his EFO designation from the in May 2010.

Photo of King, Alisha

Alisha King

Alisha King is an internationally certified emergency manager, nationally recognized disaster technologist, and an award winning educator with a passion for building resilient communities. Ms. King has built her career on a foundation of operational sciences, including work in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, bioterrorism response planning, emergency medicine, and humanitarian field deployments. In addition to her full-time job, Alisha serves as an instructor for the US Department of Homeland Security, as an advisory board member to the Homeland Security Center of Excellence, and as a volunteer technologist with a regional social services non-profit. Some of her professional contributions include: • White House Office of Science and Technology Policy - Contributor • White House Disaster Innovation Initiative - Contributor • US Department of Homeland Security, Congressional Advisory Committee - Member • International Association of Emergency Managers, Emerging Technology Caucus - Founder • International Association of Emergency Managers, Public Awareness Award - Recipient • Seattle Police Department, Technology-Enabled Control Clinic - Co-Founder & Instructor

John Kirby

Mr. Kirby is a senior public safety operations specialist, providing leadership and guidance for an array of public safety enhancements required by local, state, federal, and tribal agencies. He has been serving in the homeland security sector for more than eight years, and has 43 years of field and management experience in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, emergency communications, and emergency management areas. His experience includes disaster response to pipeline ruptures, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Mr. Kirby is a subject matter expert assisting clients and consultants primarily on projects that support the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Kenneth Kondo

Ken "Disaster Guy" Kondo, APIO, MEP has over 30 years of experience in community & media relations, event planning and market research with Los Angeles County Probation, Mental Health & Chief Executive Office, Office of Emergency Management, Major League Baseball, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Harlem Globetrotters, 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, California Angels and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Has planned, coordinated and conducted more than 200 preparedness seminars, trainings & exercises partnering with seniors, persons with disabilities access functional needs. In 2016, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presented him with America's Prepareathon in Action Honorable Mention Award and Los Angeles County Quality & Productivity Commissioners' Teamwork Award. In 2017, Business & Industry Council for Emergency Planning & Preparedness honored Mr. Kondo with its Award of Excellence. In 2018, inducted into Great ShakeOut Hall of Fame. A graduate of FEMA Emergency Management Institute's Master Exercise Practitioner Program in addition earned California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California Standardized Training Institute (CSTI) Emergency Management and Public Information Officer (PIO) Specialist certificates and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Position Credentialing Standard Type 3 as PIO. Mr. Kondo is also certified training instructor with FEMA, Cal OES CSTI and National Disaster Preparedness Training Center for EOC operations, Incident Command System 300 & 400, Crisis Communications, PIO and new technology.

Photo of Kong, Laura

Laura Kong

Dr. Kong has been the Director of the International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) since 2001. As Director, she oversees the Center that supports the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in its efforts to deploy tsunami warning and mitigation systems globally, and that works directly with the 46-nation Intergovernmental Co-ordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS) to strengthen international and national tsunami warnings and preparedness.

Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Dr. Kong has been active in advising countries around the world on how to build robust and sustainable tsunami mitigation systems. Dr. Kong also serves as the Hawaii State Tsunami Advisor. She is the former Chair of the Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee, and a member of the Hawaii State Hazard Mitigation Forum. Previously, she was with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a graduate of Brown University and received her doctorate in Seismology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1990.

Photo of Kukulies, Emily

Emily Kukulies

Emily Kukulies is an educator. She is a Tenured Professor at the University of Hawaii – Honolulu Community College. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, as well as an MBA from Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii. She will soon be completing her Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a focus in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. She is a 2018 University of Hawaii Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Medal winner. Ms. Kukulies is also a community leader. She is very active in disaster community in the state and across the United States. Emily Kukulies is a Senior Responder with the American Red Cross and is active in responding hands-on to local and national (U.S.) disasters. She serves as the Community Engagement and Partnerships Lead for with the American Red Cross for Hawaii. She is also the Chairperson of the Hawaii VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and National VOAD Chairperson for US Islands and Alaska Committee.