Background
Jennifer Paris' environmental and emergency management career spanned two decades prior to her joining NASA’s Earth Applied Sciences Disasters program area in 2020. Her previous role at NASA provided her the opportunity to be a member of the Mars 2020 Rover Radiological Contingency HQ Planning Team, while also assisting in delivering emergency preparedness trainings, drills and exercises, and performing continuity of operations planning. Paris is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP), Certified Safety Manager (CSM), and FEMA Incident Command System Trainer. In her current role as a NASA HQ Disaster Management Coordinator, Paris helps maintain situational awareness of global disaster activations, supports program personnel for successful response and collaboration, coordinates with partner agencies and organizations, and assists in documentation for event tracking and communication with stakeholders.
Additionally, Paris has other roles in the area, such as serving on the National Capital Region Incident Management Team since 2014, deploying across the country for numerous disasters, including the 2015 World Police and Fire Games, 2016 and 2018 Ellicott City floods, 2016 Vice Presidential Debate, 2018 Hurricane Michael and the 2021 Inauguration. Her additional work experience in emergency preparedness, hazardous materials, training, and regulatory oversight has been with the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Tallahassee Community College, and 14-years with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection spanning three Districts, one Branch Office and as Emergency Response Manager to 26 of the 67 counties in Florida. She was the youngest and first female Emergency Response Manager within the State’s Bureau of Emergency Response, and the first female in the Bureau to become a State Certified Hazardous Materials Technician.
Current organizations:
- TRANSCAER à State Coordinator for Maryland (TRANSportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response
- Association of Continuity Professionals, Washington DC Chapter (President (term 2018-2019) and Secretary (term 2020-current)
Education:
- Paris obtained her B.S. in Marine Biology, with a minor in Environmental Science, from the University of West Florida, and is currently working towards her M.S. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Learn more about Jennifer Paris: From Ocean Conservation to Disaster Response with Jennifer Paris