Matthew Burns
Littleton,CO
Summary
Dynamic professional with over 15 years of experience in emergency management and fire services, specializing in training, program management, and leadership within high-stress environments. Proven expertise in overseeing COVID-19 program initiatives, supervising over 30 personnel, and developing policies that enhance resilience through effective resource allocation. Recognized for strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a successful track record in continuous process improvement, including managing nearly $13 million in grants at FEMA Region 8. Accomplished in fostering team collaboration and driving cultural change, resulting in significant cost savings for the United States Army through innovative manufacturing processes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emergency Management Specialist (Preparedness) – Preparedness Analyst and Planning Officer (PAPO)
FEMA Region 8
05.2025 - Current
- Leads the development and coordination of the Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP), this includes compile data components from internal and external customers and data sources (e.g. Region 8 plans, Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), R8 State IPPs, Other Federal Agency (OFAs) strategic plans, the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR). The IPP coordination is intended to enhance capability and capacity of state, local, and tribal partners by 30% by 2026. The IPP is a three year coordinated plan for all of Region 8 divisions to support planning, organizational structure, equipment, training, and exercise (POETE).
- Lead development and reviews of surveys in coordination with the Continuous Improvement program (CIP). Support the development and enhancement of the Catastrophic Resource Report (CRR) which summarizes progress made toward building and sustaining capabilities required to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to our nation.
- Lead coordination with the Grants Division of the EMPG grant training, applications, quarterly reports, and monitoring. The EMPG grant provides state, local, tribal and territorial emergency management agencies with the resources required for implementation of the National Preparedness System and works toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.
- Lead the development of a National Preparedness Division programmatic review including review of programmatic statutes and policy, while also reviewing current activities, future activities and identify challenges to enhance NPD programs by 20% to support internal and external stakeholder capabilities.
- Lead the development of a unified approach for regional, state, local, and tribal priorities and threats/hazards. This unified approach ensures all partners develop a 3 year plan that encompasses - planning, organizational needs, equipment needs, training, and exercising to the same goals and objectives to be prepared for all threats and hazards within region 8 states.
- Supports the development of the R8 Strategic Plan and All-Hazards Plan
- Salary: 117,500.00
- Hours per week: 40
- Series: 0089 Pay Plan: GS-13
- Permanent Appointment
Emergency Management Specialist (Preparedness) – The Continuous Improvement Working Group (CIWG) Program Manager
FEMA Region VIII, Department of Homeland Security
10.2021 - 05.2025
- Developed, designed, and created a framework (charter) for the reconstruction of the Continuous Improvement Working Group (CIWG), which reviews AAR reports with senior leaders of the region to determine whether recommended courses of action within the reports are appropriate to move forward for action. CIP approved CIWG findings/actions are then transitioned to a Responsible Program Office (RPO) e.g. the Response Division. I document all major decisions made by the RPO. Followed up with action officers in the RPO to ensure findings/actions are implemented. This ensured action officers understand a culture of learning that CIP is implementing in Region 8 which includes accountability and transparency throughout the region.
- Organized and lead the facilitation of the Wasatch Workshop, which included FEMA Region 8 and the state of Utah, to coordinate operational aspects in the Wasatch earthquake at Salt Lake City. The actions created during the workshop were evaluate operation readiness and identify areas for improvement. Personnel from the state of Utah expressed gratitude to have tangible actions the state is implementing to improve the possible response.
- Leads, facilitates and coordinates the Continuous improvement Working Group (CIWG), which includes the coordination of the meeting, development and delivery of PowerPoint presentations, emergency plans and materials conveying information pertaining to expert recommendations from past AAR reports, the products produced are specific for executive-level review and the recommendations could include modification of strategic priorities, national priorities, national frameworks, and enhancing future conditions related to Response and Recovery programs. Also, the working group includes all regional leadership including Senior Executives (i.e., RA and DD’s) to determine after-action review collection priorities; additionally, to ensure consistent data collection across all Major Disaster Declaration (MDDs), Exercises.
- Planned, organized, created, developed, monitored, managed, implemented, and oversaw the Continuous Improvement Program 101 training plan and course to the state and local partners of Montana, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This supported the agency and regional goals and objectives to enhance our state and local partners capabilities, capacity, and knowledge of CIP.
- Oversight of all CIWG recommendations taken for action. Often, providing advice to senior level officials concerning future conditions of program efficiencies, policy integration, and adjustment of strategic objectives and priorities by implementing said actions in Region 8 to ensure continuous improvement. Once actions are completed there is a data analysis review the effectiveness of the implanted actions.
- Developed, implemented, and conducted needs assessment within the state of Montana training lead to enhance capability and capacity for all Region 8 states:
- Educational instructor and trainer in FEMA instructor cadre (EMI anywhere). The instruction incorporates facilitation and management of training events that includes FEMA employees, state and local partners, and tribal partners. These classes allow for personnel to be better informed of the Incident Command System (ICS) and hear from personnel experiences from instructors and how ICS would assist jurisdictions during disasters and exercises. Also, the training cadre supports vulnerable and underserved communities within FEMA region 8 to ensure region 8 citizens receive quality training support for classes such as ICS 300, 400, 449 and G0191 EOC.
- Salary: 108,351.00
- Hours per week: 40
- Series: 0089 Pay Plan: IC-12
- Term Appointment
COVID-19 Response Coordinator
Sierra Army Depot, Department of Defense, Army
10.2020 - 10.2021
- Served as a senior level, principal advisor, and technical leader, that provided expert guidance to the Command leadership of Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) for COVID-19 planning, safety, and security.
- Exercised technical and administrative leadership and supervision to a staff of over 30 personnel who engaged in supporting the SIAD COVID-19 mission by providing disinfecting support and delivery, resulting from intentional and/or unintentional biological crisis emergencies, safety hazards, and high yield incidents. While also, evaluated the workforce development within the COVID-19 program by overseeing exercises in disinfecting and reviewing safety concerns at SIAD.
- Coordinated, planned, monitored, evaluated and lead scenario based instructional course design, training, and development opportunities for over 30 employees to support the COVID-19 response program.
- Evaluated and reviewed the COVID-19 program by researching federal, state, and local guidance and analyzed best practice, while also developed guidance and a training and educational component to the consistently changing education and policy of the pandemic for all team members on the depot: Developed a needs assessment, created a comprehensive data collection plan including a action spreadsheet of disinfecting for all Depot warehouses, interviewed personnel to assess exposure limits for contract tracing.
- Analyzed emergency management plans and procedures while also conducted research and needs assessments through discussions with divisions directors and branch chiefs to ensure operations of facilities were at maximum readiness to combat COVID-19: performing daily inspections of installation facilities, warehouses and evaluated compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
- Served as coordinator to develop, modify, and implement technical preparedness planning and operations for the Quality Integration Directorate (QID): assessing how building ingress and egress would be altered, but also following compliance with regulatory guidance.
- Performed a needs analysis for all threats affected by COVID-19: Coordinated with primary, secondary, and post-secondary leaders to meet changing national policy which directly correlated with installation needs.
- Salary: 104,000.00
- Hours per week: 40
- Series: 0343 Pay Plan: AD
- This is a time-limited appointment or temporary promotion, Volunteer Leadership Position
Program Analyst (Continuous Process Improvements – Lean Six Sigma)
Sierra Army Depot, Department of Defense, Army
08.2020 - 10.2021
- Subject matter expert (SME), trainer, and facilitator in CI programs principles, mission, and functions by implementing the Sierra Performance System (SPS) through customer value, building relationships, elimination of waste, and continuous process improve by reviewing project scope, priority, and project staffing. The Sierra Performance System was a cultural transformation model for SIAD, and CI was the central driver for cultural change.
- Managed, coordinated, facilitated, and supported meetings between multiple directorates, heads of activities to address the future of the SPS, COOP, and support, discuss possible issues and exchange information by superior communication. This created a combined effort to place 2 directorates within one building and saved SIAD over 4.4 million dollars.
- Lead multiple Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), Value stream analysis, Just do it projects which included process structure and functions of SIAD programs and their inefficiencies by reviewing lead times, takt time, cycle time and turnaround time to enhance capabilities within the directorate process.
- Successfully trained, lead, guided, directed, and assist teams involving participants with diverse skills, backgrounds, experience, and job-focus areas to establish and complete various operational elements of Depot operation, develop a product, or accomplish a special assignment through building and strengthening relationships. This is accomplished by effectively facilitating and teaching by respectful communication, leveraging individual strengths, coordination, promoting accountability, continuous improvements, collaboratively working, and follow-up actions through potentially contentious processes.
- Lead the Leader Standard Work (LSW) training and implementation initiative. This helped leaders inspect their work site and to see lean management “8 wastes” in their operational work area. Standard Work also created empowerment and engagement from leadership to front-line workers. With the empowerment from leadership front line workers had an enhanced feeling of improving their processes and in turn improving their manufacturing time lines by 20%.
- Trained and facilitated to all stakeholders on SIAD in the development, control, analysis, and monitoring of all projects and programs. This includes understanding current and long-range operations, workload trends and action plans for implementation of the recommendation processes pertinent to metrics. (E.g., driver and outcome metrics within RIE’s, huddle boards, and sit withs necessary to grow and sustain a continuous improvement culture throughout SIAD.
- Developed and executed the SPS Operation Plan (OPORD). The OPORD assisted directorates and branches in the understanding of what Essential Tasks and Essential Supporting Activities (ESAs) were required in the context of the SPS. (E.g. a SPS essens was the Petroleum and Water Distribution Systems (PAWS) and the maintenance directorate was required to ensure that program was operational functional at all times
- Salary: 56,914.00
- Hours per week: 40
- Series: 0343 Pay Plan: GS-9
- Term appointment
Emergency Operations Planning Officer
Oklahoma State University
03.2020 - 06.2020
- Advised, coordinated, and provided technical advice to the Planning Operations Chief through the Incident Command System (ICS). Executed requirements set by Oklahoma State University and the state of Oklahoma for the recovery efforts of COVID-19. The Incident Management Team (IMT) utilized continuous improvement methodology having 3 Microsoft Teams virtual calls weekly, which was centralized at the Emergency Operating Center (EOC) of Oklahoma State University. These meetings were briefs to provide updates, AARs, and resolve conflicts within specific schools of education at the University and what material and resources were needed to recover.
- Primary Emergency Operations Planning Officer who designed, developed the Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPP) pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, which focused on coordination for the near-term and long-range development, planning, and implementation of the return-to-work, safety and security policies, and guidelines for all employees and students at Oklahoma State University (OSU). To ensure the success of the COOP and EPP, MEFs were reviewed and decided upon by the IC and upper leadership. A devolution and reconstitution plan were implemented into the COOP.
- Salary: 0.00 USD Without Compensation
- Hours per week: 20-30
Corporal / Fire Training Instructor
Norman Fire Department
09.2012 - 01.2020
- Fire instructor I and a Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor certification. Due to certifications, directed organizational quarterly training, which included Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), fire suppression tactics, fire safety oversight, confined space techniques, the implementation of emergency medical services, and updated practices from the American Heart Association (AHA). The CPR training diagnosed short comings and created a save rate while performing CPR of over 15%, which is above national standards by the AHA.
- Produced and developed the Rescue Intervention Team (RIT) SOP and training curriculum. Lead trainings to teach personnel on RIT behavior and tool requirements on the fire ground. Once the trainings were completed the station team presented the SOP and training requirements that were met by the department to the Administrative Chief.
- Supervised 2 to 3 personnel in daily operations and training including the safety of personnel of fire and medical situations.
- Trained local community stakeholders to understand what hazardous materials traveled through Norman daily by train, interstate transit, and air. Many of the stakeholders had no idea the significant number of hazardous materials that traveled through the city. Once stakeholders had a grasp about the CBRNE threats in their community, they created a plan of action if a significant hazardous material exposure occurred within the city limits of Norman.
- Coordinated multiple fire suppression scenes, which included evaluating burning structures, wild land fires, and hazardous materials. Disseminated the proper strategies and tactics, which effectively provided fire protection for other exposed structures and controlled and extinguished fires.
- Salary: 70,000.00 USD Per Year
- Hours per week: 52
Education
Master's Degree - Emergency Management Administration
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK, United States12.2020
Bachelor's Degree - History, Political Science
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Weatherford, OK, United States12.2007
Skills
- Crisis management leadership
- Strategic program execution
- Project execution
- Emergency response coordination
- Proficient in first aid techniques
- Educational facilitation
Affiliations
Golden Key Honor Society - must be top 15% of master’s graduates.
Certification
- FEMA ICS Instructor
- IFSAC Fire Instructor I
- American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support Instructor (2014-2023)
- FEMA IS-00100.b (ICS-100)
- FEMA IS-00200.b (ICS-200)
- FEMA IS-00300.b (ICS-300)
- FEMA IS-00400.b (ICS-400)
- FEMA IS-0191 (ICS-0191)
- FEMA IS-00700.a (NIMS Introduction)
- FEMA IS-00800.b (NRF Introduction)
- FEMA IS-449 (ICS-449 Train the Trainer)
- IFSAC Firefighter I and II
- IFSAC Driver Operator Pumper
- IFSAC Hazardous Materials Technician
- United States Army Civilian Award 2021
Personal Information
Title: Emergency Management Specialist
Awards
- FEMA ICS Instructor
- IFSAC Fire Instructor I
- American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support Instructor (2014-2023)
- FEMA IS-00100.b (ICS-100)
- FEMA IS-00200.b (ICS-200)
- FEMA IS-00300.b (ICS-300)
- FEMA IS-00400.b (ICS-400)
- FEMA IS-G0191 (ICS-0191)
- FEMA IS-00700.a (NIMS Introduction)
- FEMA IS-00800.b (NRF Introduction)
- FEMA IS-449 (ICS-449 Train the Trainer)
- IFSAC Firefighter I and II
- IFSAC Driver Operator Pumper
- IFSAC Hazardous Materials Technician
- United States Army Civilian Award 2021
- Task Management System (TMT) Advanced and Basic Certifications
- United States Army Action Officer Certification
- Community Caring Award 2016
- Firefighter of the Year 2010
Firefighter of the Year
Took charge during critical incidents when appropriate.
Calm, decisive and supportive under pressure.
Serves as a role model for newer firefighters.
Promotes teamwork and accountability.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
German
Limited Working
Timeline
Emergency Management Specialist (Preparedness) – Preparedness Analyst and Planning Officer (PAPO)
FEMA Region 8
05.2025 - Current
Emergency Management Specialist (Preparedness) – The Continuous Improvement Working Group (CIWG) Program Manager
FEMA Region VIII, Department of Homeland Security
10.2021 - 05.2025
COVID-19 Response Coordinator
Sierra Army Depot, Department of Defense, Army
10.2020 - 10.2021
Program Analyst (Continuous Process Improvements – Lean Six Sigma)
Sierra Army Depot, Department of Defense, Army
08.2020 - 10.2021
Emergency Operations Planning Officer
Oklahoma State University
03.2020 - 06.2020
Corporal / Fire Training Instructor
Norman Fire Department
09.2012 - 01.2020
Bachelor's Degree - History, Political Science
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Master's Degree - Emergency Management Administration
Oklahoma State University