Christopher Wisher
Springfield,IL
Summary
Experienced Emergency Manager with a proven track record in efficiently building capability, mitigating disaster impact, and leading disaster/recovery efforts. Adept at strengthening procedures, developing policy, and improving program quality through achievable and sustainable processes. Proficient in coordinating disaster response, communication, and crisis management. Professional who is ready to step into a leadership role and thrive within an environment that is demanding.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Recovery Division: SEOC Liaison Officer
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
Springfield, IL
07.2024 - Current
- Authored the State Recovery Plan for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- Planning Section Chief for statewide joint preliminary damage assessment, created an incident action plan for over 45 personnel, and briefed executive leadership on the operation, and facilitated the operational period briefing.
- Coordinated with state and federal agencies, including FEMA, to obtain necessary resources in support of emergency operations.
- Developed and implemented emergency management plans, policies and procedures.
Recovery Div. PTU: Regional Liaison
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
Springfield, IL
09.2023 - 07.2024
- Planning and Training Unit, Central Regional Liaison. Responsible for 29 counties across central IL. I delivered training, workshops, and coordinated recovery efforts during emergencies with local emergency management personnel.
- Respond statewide to All-Hazards incidents, filling Command and General Staff ICS positions during multiple disasters within the state, such as Agency Representative, Liaison, Planning Section Chief, Situation Unit Leader, and Damage Assessment Coordinator within the local Emergency Operations Center.
- Liaison/Agency Representative, Coordinating Recovery Operations with City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications and FEMA.
- Successfully managed recovery operations during Disaster 4728-IL, the largest disaster in the nation in fiscal year 2023. $320 million in Individual Assistance delivered.
- Assisted in the establishment of and operated within a FEMA Area Field Office.
- Coordinated the development of emergency response procedures and protocols for various hazard scenarios.
- Authored the State Recovery Plan for the 2024 Eclipse Operation 24-001.
Field Operations Branch: Special Projects Officer
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
Springfield, IL
09.2022 - 09.2023
- Developed and implemented emergency management plans, policies and procedures.
- Created regional Power Incident Playbooks for the Bureau of Operations and Field Operations Branch to deliver to local emergency managers across the state.
- Coordinated with state and federal agencies, including FEMA, to obtain necessary resources in support of emergency operations.
- Situation Unit Leader for the Southwest Border Mission: Chicago OEMC. Coordinating housing and wraparound services during the influx of asylum seekers into the City of Chicago.
- Main Planner for the 2024 Eclipse operation 24-001, delivering multiple briefings to internal and external stakeholders across the state.
- Served as the Chairman of the local planning, lodging, and event tracking subcommittee, and member of the National Eclipse Task Force.
- Maintained records of all emergency management activities, including exercises, reports, and evaluations.
Firefighter-Retired
City of Champaign
Champaign, IL
09.2011 - 09.2022
- Responded to 6,500 calls to service a year as a department.
- Extinguished structure fires alongside other companies within our department, as well as the City of Urbana Fire Department, during large-scale incidents.
- Responded to medical emergencies and conducted rescue operations within the city.
- Member of the MABAS Regional Haz-Mat Team as a Hazardous Materials Technician.
- Instructed new firefighters on the use of fire equipment and emergency response protocols.
Crash Rescue Fire Fighter/Security Specialist
Willard Airport Fire Department
Savoy, IL
06.2008 - 09.2011
- Conducted a Personal Security Detail operation for the Ecuadorian President during a visit to the University of Illinois. This was done alongside partners from Homeland Security Investigations, behavioral analysis personnel, ISP, and local law enforcement.
- Assisted with an aircraft ordered down by US ICE (International Customs Enforcement) Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement to execute a search and seizure of approximately 400lb of marijuana.
- Created pre-fire plans for every building on the airport, including the main terminal and control tower. This assisted in identifying emergency ingress and egress routes, apparatus placement, hydrant locations, and locations of hazardous materials.
- Assisted in the implementation of emergency response plans for multiple types of hazardous materials incidents.
- Responded to crash rescue fire calls, including aircraft, automobile, and structure fires.
- Inspected buildings for compliance with safety regulations and codes.
- Assessed fire damage to structures or other property.
- Prepared detailed reports on all activities conducted during a shift.
- Participated in community outreach efforts by providing educational presentations about fire safety topics.
Crash Rescue Firefighter
United States Air Force
Minot, ND
05.2004 - 02.2008
- Duties included providing fire suppression for aircraft and structural fires, HazMat response, medical, confined space, and rescue operations.
- Supported the nuclear mission at Minot AFB as a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) Hazmat Technician and incident commander.
- Trained host nation and foreign military personnel on aircraft firefighting to ensure interoperability during incidents. Overcame language and cultural barriers to achieve mission success.
- Served on the regional Hazmat Team, responding to the weapons storage facility, and over 100 missile sites by helicopter.
- Participated in combat operations during three deployments to Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
- EMS coordinator, responsible for training, evaluating, and keeping track of certification status of a 75 man fire department.
- Deployed logistics officer maintained, inventoried, and restocked the Hazmat trailer for the deployed location.
- Co-authored the 386th AEW wartime contingency plan.
- Board selected out of 900 applicants for promotion to E-4, 6 months early, putting me in the cycle to test for SSgt, which I passed, and was selected for promotion to E-5 within the first 3.5 years of my enlistment. Posturing myself for success years ahead of schedule and peer performance.
- Presented a challenge coin from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Meyers for excellence during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Trained younger Airmen on driver operator course for all vehicles and flightline operations at the base.
- Supervised younger Airmen while stateside and as a team leader on deployment. responsible for mentoring, training, evaluating, and elevating those around me to make the department a better place.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Fire Science
University of Illinois Fire Service Institute
Champaign, ILSome College (No Degree) - Emergency Management, Homeland Security
Emergency Management Institute
Emmitsburg, MDSome College (No Degree) - Fire Science Technology
Community College of The Air Force
Montgomery, ALSkills
- Emergency Response Coordination
- Interagency collaboration
- Strategic Planning
- Policy development, review, and implementation
- Emergency planning
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Partnership Development
- Attention to Detail
Certification
- Certified Homeland Security Specialist
- NIMS ICS All-Hazards Planning Section Chief
- ICS 300 & 400
- Counterterrorism Incident Command
- Homeland Security: Defining Directives, Organization, and Policy
- Transition from management to leadership
- Geospatial Information System Specialist
- Fire and Arson Investigation III
Accomplishments
- Authored the State of Illinois Recovery Plan for the 2024 DNC (Democratic National Convention)
- Authored multiple state recovery, advanced, and contingency plans since employed at IEMA-OHS
- Chairman of the Local Planning, Lodging, and Event Tracking sub-committee for IEMA-OHS Operation 24-001
- Sat on the National Solar Eclipse Task Force
- Presented a Challenge Coin by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff for excellence
- Awarded Outstanding Unit with Valor from the USAF
- Recognized by IEMA-OHS for exceptional performance during the Eclipse operation 24-001
- Recognized by IEMA-OHS for outstanding performance during the SW Border Mission, Chicago OEMC
Affiliations
- Mentored a child at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Champaign IL
- Volunteer Fire Captain in my local community before retiring from the fire service.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Recovery Division: SEOC Liaison Officer
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
07.2024 - Current
Recovery Div. PTU: Regional Liaison
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
09.2023 - 07.2024
Field Operations Branch: Special Projects Officer
IL Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security
09.2022 - 09.2023
Firefighter-Retired
City of Champaign
09.2011 - 09.2022
Crash Rescue Fire Fighter/Security Specialist
Willard Airport Fire Department
06.2008 - 09.2011
Crash Rescue Firefighter
United States Air Force
05.2004 - 02.2008
Some College (No Degree) - Fire Science
University of Illinois Fire Service Institute
Some College (No Degree) - Emergency Management, Homeland Security
Emergency Management Institute
Some College (No Degree) - Fire Science Technology
Community College of The Air Force
- Certified Homeland Security Specialist
- NIMS ICS All-Hazards Planning Section Chief
- ICS 300 & 400
- Counterterrorism Incident Command
- Homeland Security: Defining Directives, Organization, and Policy
- Transition from management to leadership
- Geospatial Information System Specialist
- Fire and Arson Investigation III
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