Sarah Kessler is an experienced program manager specializing in crisis and emergency management programs. She has managed numerous projects and programs around the globe and locally in the National Capital Region. Mrs. Kessler is a skilled trainer, and exercise expert, having planned dozens of crisis management exercises from Lagos, Nigeria to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mrs. Kessler was essential in developing and conducting crisis and emergency management trainings including Until Help Arrives and Personnel Recovery Management Training.
She currently serves as a Deputy Coordinator with Arlington County, and manages the ongoing readiness and exercise training program of County-wide emergency services personnel and will develop, coordinate, plan and evaluate effective training programs and drills in conjunction with neighboring jurisdictions, ensuring effective communication and response between neighboring jurisdictions and County agencies in an emergency situation. Sarah also currently volunteers her time as the Executive Director of the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (C-TECC). She is charged with providing leadership and management of the Committee to include future planning, fundraising, and communications.
Previously she served as an Associate with The Olson Group Ltd. and supported various exercises and planning initiatives in the National Capital Region. Drawing from her tenure at the Department of State’s Bureaus of Diplomatic Security and Consular Affairs, the Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies, and other private sector organizations, Mrs. Kessler brings a wide range of experience in crisis management and response, public-private partnerships, and strategic planning.
At the Department of State, she led the outreach and engagement efforts to manage public-private partnerships on a global scale, helping private sector organizations overseas respond to crises by providing crisis management training and ensuring the continued flow of information and open communication. Mrs. Kessler served on several U.S. government Task Forces, to include Libya, Egypt, Japan, and New Zealand.
