Anthony A. Picasso

Background

About Anthony A. Picasso

Born and raised in Alaska, this state is not just where I live, it is who I am. Alaska is home to some of the most resilient, resourceful, and deeply rooted communities in the world, people who have lived on this land for centuries and who deserve advocates that show up with genuine care, real commitment, and someone willing to make sure their voices are heard and their dignity is protected.That is what drives me. Not accolades or acronyms, but people. I am not content to advocate from the sidelines. I want to be part of the solution, to challenge traditional Western frameworks that were never designed with Indigenous communities in mind. That commitment led me to pursue my PhD, where my research focuses on Community-Centered Shelter Operations: Integrating Traditional Knowledge with Human Security Principles in American Indigenous Evacuation Management. You cannot write about a community's struggles from a distance. You have to be present, listening, and feeling the full weight of why this work matters.Today I serve as Emergency Manager for the University of Alaska Anchorage, protecting lives across five campuses spanning Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Valley, Kodiak, and Prince William Sound. I lead emergency response and crisis management for Alaska's largest university system, coordinating with University Police, local agencies, and statewide emergency services, designing campus-wide drills, training volunteer response teams, and ensuring our communities stay prepared when it matters most.Before UAA, I served as Alaska's Earthquake, Tsunami, and Volcano Program Manager, overseeing statewide geological hazard mitigation, tsunami warning systems, and bringing preparedness to remote communities. From developing K-12 curriculum to partnering with tribal leaders to integrate traditional knowledge into modern hazard planning, I worked to build resilience across our vast state.My fieldwork in rural Alaska deepened my commitment to underrepresented communities and strengthened my belief in collaborative, community-driven solutions. I served in leadership roles during Federally Declared Disasters Typhoon Merbok 2022 and Typhoon Halong 2025, and was peer-nominated as National Chair of FEMA's Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, representing 26 states at the federal level.What defines a professional is not what hangs on their wall. It is how they treat people, whether they lead with empathy, and whether they use the platform they have been given to lift others up. That is the standard I hold myself to every single day