Professional Experience
Jody has over 20 years of public safety, public health, and nursing experience. Jody is a former Assistant Commissioner for the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), serving as the CFD’s homeland security liaison. In her six years in this position, Jody authored grant proposals and managed funding awards for over 35 million dollars of federal grant funds. She was also responsible for coordinating development of emergency plans and leading the development and execution of Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercises.
As an emergency manager for the City of Chicago, Jody’s primary focus was developing and exercising city-wide, interagency emergency plans for the response to biological, chemical, and public health emergencies. Her responsibilities also included managing the City’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) during activations for emergencies and large-scale events and working as a member of the Planning Section to develop Incident Action Plans. She routinely responded to the scene of major incidents to assist the Incident Commander with coordinating the multi-agency response.
During her tenure as a public health nurse, Jody concentrated on creating and delivering training seminars for public health personnel, physicians, and hospital- and school-based nurses on strategies to improve communicable disease control. She also co-authored infectious disease control response plans, policies, and procedures for the Chicago Department of Public Department.
In her capacity as a consultant, Jody has assisted many public safety entities with conducting capability assessments, developing emergency preparedness plans, and creating HSEEP-compliant exercises. She has also written funding proposals for a number of clients.
Education and Training
Jody earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Case Western Reserve University; a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago; and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Published Works
Jody is the author of master’s thesis “Formal Critiques and After Action Reports from Conventional Emergencies: Tools for Homeland Security Training and Education” published by the Naval Postgraduate School, 2010 and a co-author of “Hepatitis A Incidence and Hepatitis A Vaccination Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1990-2001” published by the American Journal of Public Health, 2004.