ASSP Hawaii Chapter Hybrid Meeting

Topic Introduction to the Incident Command System

Speaker Niea Gardner

Niea Gardner is the Training & Exercise Supervisor for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA). In this role, she provides training and advisory services to state and county government staff to ensure awareness and competence in their roles and responsibilities related to emergency readiness and response. She facilitates sessions for internal and external stakeholders across governmental levels and within the nonprofit and private sectors on emergency response, coordination, and communication.

Niea also provides technical assistance to county emergency management agencies and supports the development of county emergency management training and exercise programs and plans by providing feedback, including but not limited to: conformance with state plans and policies, effectiveness in executing emergency duties, and adherence to applicable county, state, and/or federal guidelines or regulations.

As part of her role, Niea coordinates instruction for Incident Command System (ICS) courses to support state readiness in emergency management. She has completed training to instruct core courses such as ICS 300 and 400 and is currently an assistant instructor finalizing her evaluation to become a lead instructor. ICS, originally developed in response to catastrophic wildfires in California in the 1970s, has evolved into a standardized system used nationwide for managing emergencies of all sizes. It ensures a structured, scalable, and coordinated response for incidents ranging from local disasters to large-scale and international summits. Niea helps train emergency management professionals, first responders, and other stakeholders on how ICS can be effectively implemented to enhance command, control, and communication during crises.

Niea moved to Hawaii to attend graduate school at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Before graduate school, she worked at Oxfam America, an international nonprofit focused on human rights, humanitarian assistance, and international development, in Boston, MA. She worked closely with colleagues in the humanitarian and regional program departments on response efforts and helped communicate the organization’s actions to the U.S. public. She supported responses to Hurricane Katrina, Typhoon Haiyan, Cyclone Pam, the Nepal earthquake, and conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as public health emergencies like Ebola in West Africa and Cholera in Haiti.

Niea holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and a graduate certificate in Conflict Resolution from the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution. She also earned a Master of Liberal Arts in Anthropology and Archaeology from Harvard University in 2019.

An active member of the Junior League of Honolulu and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Niea volunteers with organizations such as The Bella Project, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, Girls on the Run, and the American Legion Auxiliary Hawaii Girls State Program.

In her free time, Niea explores Oahu’s diverse food scene, adding to her pop culture collectibles and sneaker collection, and cheering on her beloved Los Angeles Lakers.

Agenda

5:00 – 6:00 Social
6:00 – 7:00 Presentation

Free pupus and beverages for in-person attendees.  Please RSVP below.

Virtual Call In Details

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82056880934?pwd=oSMcjOUfb5lFbjZHwBnc9NNoajdkRa.1