Brett Sonnenstrahl
Vancouver,WA
Summary
Public administration and emergency management professional with experience in crisis response, preparedness, and working with multiple agencies. Skilled in building and improving emergency plans and supporting incident response using ICS/NIMS. As a Deaf professional, I focus on accessibility and making sure emergency and public services work for Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Dependable, collaborative, and steady under pressure.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Contractor
Upstream Access
Beaverton, OR
07.2025 - Current
- Co-led development of community-based emergency preparedness initiatives focused on disability-inclusive disaster planning
- Delivered training and outreach to improve emergency readiness among underserved and Deaf communities
- Coordinated with public agencies and community partners to align preparedness strategies with inclusive best practices
Emergency Management Specialist (Recovery)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Hyattsville, USA
08.2024 - 09.2025
- Developed and evaluated emergency operations plans, identifying gaps and implementing corrective actions to improve operational readiness
- Facilitated training, exercises, and workshops for diverse stakeholders, strengthening response capabilities and interagency coordination
- Collaborated with local, state, and federal partners to support incident response, recovery operations, and continuity planning
- Integrated accessibility and disability-inclusive strategies into emergency planning to ensure equitable response for vulnerable populations
Intern
DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency
Washington, DC
09.2023 - 05.2024
- Supported planning and coordination of citywide emergency preparedness initiatives and community outreach efforts.
- Assisted in updating and reviewing emergency operations plans and continuity of operations (COOP) documents.
- Conducted research and data analysis to inform preparedness strategies and improve resilience across diverse communities.
Residential Assistant (Overnight)
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC
08.2021 - 08.2023
- Conducted overnight safety checks and enforced emergency protocols to ensure the well-being of residents in a university housing setting.
- Responded to and documented incidents, coordinating with campus security and emergency services as needed.
- Promoted risk awareness and crisis preparedness through peer support, conflict de-escalation, and policy enforcement in a diverse, bilingual community.
Education
Master of Arts - Public Administration
Gallaudet University
Washington, D.C.05-2025
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC05-2020
Skills
- Disaster Recovery
- Emergency Planning
- Team Leadership
- Research & Analysis
- Multilingual (ASL/English)
- Time Management
- Incident command
- First aid training
- Training and education
- Public safety
- Crisis management
- Contingency planning
Certification
- FEMA ICS & Community Preparedness Training
- Dean's List (2016, 2017)
- Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction – Graduate Certificate Program
- Certified Emergency Manager (Awaiting)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
American Sign Language
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Contractor
Upstream Access
07.2025 - Current
Emergency Management Specialist (Recovery)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
08.2024 - 09.2025
Intern
DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency
09.2023 - 05.2024
Residential Assistant (Overnight)
Gallaudet University
08.2021 - 08.2023
Master of Arts - Public Administration
Gallaudet University
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Gallaudet University