California Wildfire: Responding with Systems Engineering

Speaker

---

Mr. Andre Lee

Presentation

---

Wildfire SE

Abstract

Large scale crisis incidents involve a complex response, especially when geographically wide and populous areas are impacted, as is the case with So.Cal wildfires. The coordination of response assets deployed into the impact zone, in addition to the outgoing flux of those fleeing the danger, requires achieving a balance between organized chaos and command and control. By applying systems engineering to emergency response, we can look at the operations from a system and subsystems perspective, identifying critical interface integration, and enhanced orchestration of equipment, personnel, communications, and mass casualty management. In addition, lean and quality based methods can help to increase the efficacy of readiness activities and stream line deployment activities while anticipating operational risks. While large scale incidents are overwhelming in their size and consumption of resources, systems engineering offers a framework for optimizing outcomes. 

Biography

---

Andre Lee has maintained a longstanding involvement with both technical and emergency services fields. As a reservist and Telecommunications Officer, Andre has spent the past 8 years working in technical management of civilian – military operations under federal response agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. Andre has held key positions on mass casualty events with local, state, and federal public safety agencies throughout the U.S., including joint operations with the Army and Air Force. Andre has deployed to nationally declared disasters, including Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, and the So. Cal Firestorms. In addition, Andre is an adjunct faculty member at Loyola Marymount University and El Camino College. Areas of research include leveraging technology to improve emergency
response, including ad hoc/ mesh networks, mobility solutions, and unified communications, for austere and fixed environments. He has also served in consulting and project management capacities for diverse industries including medical, government, entertainment, public safety, and academia. Andre presented at the 2009 INCOSE-LA Mini-Conference in the area of non-traditional applications of systems engineering. Andre is an alumnus of Loyola Marymount where he received his Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering, and Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems and Quantitative Management. Andre enjoys mountain biking, serving as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and is a mentor for FIRST Robotics.