Preparing Los Angeles: Collaboration in Public Safety and Preparedness

In Recognition of National Preparedness Month
Hosted by USC Price Center on National Defense and Public Safety, Public Safety Initiatives
About this Event

Preparing Los Angeles for emergencies, major events, and evolving security challenges requires coordination across the public and private sectors. Government agencies, law enforcement, transportation systems, and major private organizations each play an important role in protecting people, infrastructure, and the region’s ability to respond when incidents occur.

In recognition of National Preparedness Month, this executive panel will bring together leaders from California emergency management, federal law enforcement, regional transportation, and the entertainment industry to discuss how organizations work together before, during, and after emergencies.

Panelists include:

• Bill Scott, Chief, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
• Patrick Grandy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office
• Eddie Gomez, Director, Production Security & Special Events, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Moderated by: Frank Zerunyan, Director, Center on National Defense and Public Safety

Panelists will share lessons from their respective sectors, discuss how relationships and communication are built before a crisis, and explore how Los Angeles can strengthen coordination as the region prepares for future emergencies, large-scale events, and other complex public safety challenges.