William A. Clift, Jr.

Summary

Highly professional, results-driven, and proven National Exercise design, development, and execution leader; executive; and Program Manager with 30+ years’ experience in multiple sectors, including the federal, state, and local government; the military; and private sectors. Recruited to plan, direct, oversee, and evaluate multiple national exercises; recognized for emergency management, planning, preparedness, and response technical expertise as well as program management skills. Well-grounded in the National Response Framework (NRF), Incident Command System (ICS), Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Programs, Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), and Presidential Policy Directive-8 (PPD-8). Demonstrated expertise in building coalitions and professional networks with federal, state, and local elected, appointed, and Civil Service executives, and private industry to engender support for complex national and smaller-scale exercise programs and events, to develop and oversee strategic initiatives, and to coordinate multimillion-dollar contracts and budgets as well as the allocation of personnel and funding. Skilled communicator, both orally and in writing; able to establish effective communication with internal and external customers, including political appointees and elected officials, as well as state, local, and tribal officials and private-sector partners; foster meaningful information exchange; and build effective coalitions throughout the emergency management, public safety, and homeland security communities. Established track record of leading people, mentoring and developing diverse employees, and achieving excellence. Effective steward of human, physical, and financial capital. Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR).

Select executive achievements include:

• Led the successful Dark Zephyr Tier II multiregional exercise sponsored under the aegis of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This multi-day Tabletop Exercise (TTX) promoted the local, state, regional, and federal cooperation and collaboration needed following the initial dispensing of post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis. The results of this exercise were the basis for three progressive exercises, and new policy and legislative efforts; results and recommendations delivered to the National Security Staff’s Domestic Resilience Group (DRG).
• Directed the District of Columbia’s training and emergency preparedness for the 2008 Presidential Inauguration; specific initiatives included the design, execution, and evaluation of a multifaceted TTX for the City Administrator and Cabinet; training 1,300+ in incident command and other key preparedness activities; and the six-day standup of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Used leadership skills and demonstrated financial savvy and acuity—as well as expert program management and technical skills—in the management of an individual $250M contract with 16 partner companies and more than 200 contractor personnel, in preparedness training and exercise event contracts with government partners and clients in support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Exercise Program (NEP). Exercises involved tens of thousands of participants worldwide.
• Transformed a small business into an industry leader in five years by creating and communicating a vision of what could be, and by successfully communicating that vision to colleagues and stakeholders. Translated that vision into reality through recognizing customer needs and the changing environment, demonstrating exceptional customer service and technical expertise, and achieving results that identified critical gaps in homeland security and emergency management preparedness and that made innovative and cost-effective recommendations to rectify shortcomings. Doubled revenue each year and contributed to company being positioned for acquisition by an internationally recognized corporation.

Education

• Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Phoenix, AZ, 1985
• Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Technology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 1972
• Air War College (in residence), Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL, 1994