BRANDON R. WATKINS

Emergency Management professional with progressive leadership experience in emergency preparedness, response, recovery, logistics, planning, volunteer management, training, and stakeholder coordination. Promoted from Emergency Management Intern to Program Assistant and ultimately Emergency Management Specialist with Charlotte County Emergency Management based on demonstrated operational performance, leadership, and program management capabilities. Currently manage the Charlotte County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program consisting of more than 280 active volunteers and a roster exceeding 400 members.

Lead the Logistics Support Branch during Emergency Operations Center activations, providing operational oversight of assigned staff, E-Role personnel, volunteers, and disaster workforce resources. Serve as the primary county coordinator for the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process, overseeing consultant coordination, stakeholder engagement, project deliverables, and contract administration. Served as Lead Planner for the 2026 Point of Distribution (POD) Exercise, directing exercise design, coordination, implementation, and evaluation efforts involving multiple agencies and stakeholders.

Experienced instructor and facilitator with responsibility for delivering emergency management training programs, including G-300 Intermediate Incident Command System and G-400 Advanced Incident Command System courses. Skilled in emergency operations, disaster logistics, emergency planning, exercise design, contract management, grant administration, instructional delivery, and interagency coordination. Proven ability to lead complex projects, supervise personnel, build stakeholder partnerships, and support emergency operations in both routine and disaster environments.

• Promoted from Emergency Management Intern to Program Assistant and Emergency Management Specialist within Charlotte County Emergency Management.
• Manage a CERT program consisting of more than 280 active volunteers and a roster exceeding 400 members.
• Lead the Logistics Support Branch during EOC activations.
• Served in an acting supervisory capacity during Hurricane Debby.
• Supervised approximately 45 temporary disaster personnel following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• Primary county coordinator for the THIRA/SPR planning process.
• Co-Chair of the FEPA WebEOC Working Group.
• Developed and delivered emergency management training to more than 2,000 students, volunteers, and emergency management personnel.
• Recipient of the 2023 Employee of the Year Award.

• FEPA WebEOC Working Group Co-Chair (2026–Present)
• Charlotte County THIRA/SPR Project Lead (2025–Present)
• Charlotte County CERT Coordinator (2024–Present)

• Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) Expected November 2026
• Florida Associate Emergency Manager (FAEM) Certification
• FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) Certificate
• FEMA Advanced Professional Series (APS) Certificate
• Instructor Credentials:
• CERT Train-the-Trainer
• CERT National Qualification System Instructor
• SERT POD Train-the-Trainer
• G141 Instructional Presentation and Evaluation Skills
• Emergency Operations & Incident Management:
• G2302 EOC Leaders Skillset
• K2300 Intermediate EOC Functions
• G400 Advanced Incident Command System
• G191 ICS/EOC Interface
• IS2200 Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions
• IS2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework
• Emergency Planning, Recovery, & Mitigation:
• G205 Recovery from Disaster
• G393 Mitigation for Emergency Managers
• G557 Rapid Needs Assessment
• IS393 Hazard Mitigation
• Mass Care & Logistics:
• G108 Mass Care
• NIMS / ICS:
• ICS-100
• ICS-200
• ICS-700
• ICS-800

• Contributed to the development, revision, and maintenance of:
• Comprehensive Logistics Plan
• Shelter Mobilization Plan
• Shelter Master Plan
• Mass Care Plan
• Feeding Plan
• Points of Distribution (POD) Plan
• Reunification Plan
• Base Camp Plans
• Disaster Site Plans
• Special Event Plans
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs)

• Supported emergency response, recovery, and EOC operations during:
• Hurricane Ian
• Hurricane Idalia
• Hurricane Debby
• Hurricane Helene
• Hurricane Milton
• Severe Weather Incidents
• Positions Held:
• Logistics Support Branch Lead
• EOC Support Staff
• Disaster Logistics Coordinator

• Manage the Charlotte County CERT Program and associated volunteer workforce.
• Lead Logistics Support Branch operations during emergency activations.
• Served in an acting supervisory role during Hurricane Debby.
• Supervised approximately 45 temporary disaster employees supporting post-disaster operations.
• Assist with onboarding and training of new Emergency Management personnel.
• Assign and coordinate work activities for support staff and logistics personnel.
• Coordinate contract deliverables and stakeholder engagement for THIRA/SPR initiatives.
• Manage grant-funded projects and associated procurement activities.

• Developed and delivered emergency management training to more than 2,000 students and volunteers.
• Lead instructor or co-instructor for 16 CERT Basic Training courses.
• Lead instructor or co-instructor for 25 CERT Advanced Training courses.
• Conducted 2 CERT Train-the-Trainer courses.
• Conducted CERT National Qualification System training.
• Conducted 3 Points of Distribution (POD) training courses.
• Conducted 10 Shelter Operations training courses.
• Conducted 12 WebEOC training courses.
• Assisted with delivery of G300 and G400 Incident Command System courses.
• Developed curriculum for CERT, WebEOC, POD, Shelter Operations, and exercise programs.
• Assisted in development and execution of county hurricane and preparedness exercises from 2023 through 2026.

Charlotte County Employee of the Year (2023)