Brent H. Woodworth, Worldwide
Segment Manager: IBM Crisis Response Team, IBM
Mr. Woodworth is the manager of IBM’s Worldwide Crisis Response
Team. He has been with IBM for over 30 years and has held a variety
of executive management positions. Brent works on a global basis
with business leaders, elected officials and heads of state in the
development and implementation of improved risk identification,
disaster management, and global humanitarian relief services. Since
the creation of the IBM Crisis Response Team, Brent and his team
have responded to over 70 major global disasters in 49 countries.
Brent manages the marketing and delivery of IBM Crisis Response
Team services to government and private sector clients along with
supporting IBM’s internal Risk & Insurance interests at
IBM manufacturing, service delivery, and administrative sites worldwide.
Brent also works with IBM Corporate Community Relations and the
office of the Chairman in delivering IBM International Humanitarian
Relief Services during times of global crisis. Brent has proven
his skills in multiple high stress disaster situations including:
bombings, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, volcanic
eruptions, ice storms, civil unrest, hazardous material incidents,
tsunami damage, and the 9-11 World Trade Center disaster. Brent
and his team have assessed, designed, developed, and implemented
risk & critical incident management systems and policies for
governments, cities, and private sector companies’ world wide.
Brent is certified
in disaster recovery, business continuity, incident management,
disaster communication, search & rescue, and emergency medical
services. Brent and his team work in cooperation with multiple international
UN relief agencies and NGO’s including WHO, WFP, OCHA, World
Bank, UNHCR, World Vision, International Red Cross, and USAID. In
1998, Brent was appointed to a U.S. Congressional subcommittee taskforce
and co-authored the national pre-disaster mitigation plan for the
US government. In 1999 Brent was appointed to the board of the U.S.
Multi-hazard Mitigation Council in Washington DC. At the request
of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Brent has served as
chairman of multiple DHS emergency management meetings including
the American Lifeline Alliance and the US Government assessment
of critical facility resilience to weapons of mass destruction.
In 2001 Brent was named by Contingency Planning & Management
magazine to their “Hall of Fame” for his distinguished
industry leadership, dedication, and international humanitarian
efforts. Brent was recognized for “reducing the impact of
global suffering whenever and wherever disaster strikes”.
In April 2002 Brent was awarded the Computerworld Magazine Honors
“Laureate” for his role in leading IBM’s on-site
September 11th emergency management support efforts at the NY City
Emergency Operations Center. In May 2002 Brent was elected Chairman
of the U.S. Multi-hazard Mitigation Council (MMC) whose activities
are funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Under Brent’s
leadership, the MMC completed a Congressional mandated study on
the impact and benefits of federal and community funding for pre-disaster
mitigation projects. In December 2005, Brent led the MMC in presenting
the findings to members of Congress, DHS, and the Press. The MMC
is currently assessing US Government temporary housing programs
following catastrophic events. In March 2003, Brent was named to
the board of DRI International. In April 2004 Brent was named Chairman
and CEO of the Global Partnership for Preparedness, an international
non-profit foundation focused on “reducing risk, improving
response, and safeguarding our future.” In September 2005
Brent was named and confirmed to the board of the National Institute
of Building Sciences (NIBS). Selected members of the NIBS board
are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed
by the U.S. Senate. NIBS conducts special projects for Congress
and reports their annual findings to the President of the United
States. In 2007 Brent was elected Chairman of DRII, the world’s
largest independent not-for-profit education and officially recognized
professional continuity planner certification organization.
International
Crisis Response
2005 Tsunami:
On January 2, 2005 Brent led an IBM team of over 700 IBM employees
and contractors in responding to the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean
Tsunami. Brent managed IBM’s humanitarian relief operations
across India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. IBM efforts included
the development and management of customized damage assessment reporting,
victim registration systems, missing person tracking, resource management,
logistics management, child protection services support, and trauma
management training. Advanced communication systems were deployed
to provide high speed data and voice communications in remote locations.
Critical incident management, multi-agency strategy, and recovery
consulting services were also delivered by Brent and his team. Social,
political and coordination efforts included bringing together heads
of state with multiple UN agencies, NGO’s, and donating countries
to build integrated solutions for long term resiliency and regional
preparedness.
Hurricane Katrina:
In September 2005, Brent and his team responded to the Hurricane
Katrina and Rita disaster in Louisiana and Mississippi. Brent and
his team provided leadership and support services to multiple government
agencies and private sector companies. Brent’s team is credited
with helping the LSU education system to obtain an initial FEMA
grant of over $60M within the first few weeks following the disaster.
This was the first major grant approved and funded by FEMA.
Pakistan Earthquake:
In October 2005, Brent and his team responded to the 7.6 magnitude
Pakistan earthquake. Brent led members of the IBM Crisis Response
Team into some of the hardest hit areas in the Kashmir region working
closely with senior government officials including the Prime Minister,
Senators, Ministers and commanding military personnel. Brent and
his team provided the government of Pakistan with customized crisis
management software solutions, equipment, medicine, and trauma consulting.
Brent was requested by the Prime Minister and the office of the
President to provide a written report on government response activities.
Brent was also asked to help guide the senior government council
assigned to address recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Peru Earthquake:
In August 2007, Brent and his team responded to the 8.0 magnitude
earthquake in Peru. The IBM Crisis Response Team worked directly
with the Prime Minister and his support team in the successful implementation
of the Sahana international crisis management system (open source).
Brent continues
to lead and participate in projects and meetings with heads of state,
elected government officials, agency directors, senior corporate
executives, and global leaders focused on an all-hazards approach
to disaster preparedness.
Education Background
University of Southampton, England: Archeology
Cal State University, Northridge: Biochemistry
University of Southern California: Marketing Management
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