As the Director of Emergency Response & Preparedness, Tom Cotter currently works from our headquarters near Washington, D.C. to provide overall management of response efforts for natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom has over a decade of experience in international and domestic health emergency management. Previously, he has responded to major earthquakes in Haiti and Papua New Guinea; Hurricanes Matthew, Maria, and Dorian; Cyclone Idai; the 2015 Avian Flu outbreak in the U.S.; cyclones in the Philippines; and epidemiological emergencies in Africa and Asia, among others. He emphasizes a localized model for emergency response, ensuring communities and partners are well prepared for disaster and well equipped during a response.
