Paul MacFarland

Background

About Paul MacFarland

My career path began in Emergency Medical Services 16 years ago. Throughout my career, I have always had a deep appreciation for the fortitude of those who are faced with very difficult circumstances. On multiple occasions throughout my career I have had the opportunity to deploy on federally declared disasters. During these deployments I was able to bear witness to not only the tremendous hardships individuals faced but also to the resiliency people can conjure during such a difficult time. Emergency management provides the macro view of not only helping an individual in the short term but providing long-term care and resiliency tactics to strengthen whole communities. Several years ago I decided to shift the focus of my career to emergency management. I returned to school to complete a B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management and moved directly into graduate school where I graduated from The University of Chicago, with a M.Sc. in Threat and Response Management. This education has complemented my professional experience to provide the tools needed to succeed in emergency management. I'm passionate about finding ways to leverage technology in the space of UAV and AI technology to better understand how disasters impact communities and how those communities can be restored in the most efficient, fiscally responsible way possible.