The USC Price Center on National Defense and Public Safety recently convened Regional Governance During Crisis: A Panel on Cross-Sectoral Partnership in Emergency Management, bringing together leaders from government, public safety, emergency management, and regional planning to discuss the critical role of collaboration in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Hosted by the Center’s Student Research Fellows, the panel featured Chief Jim McDonnell, Chief of Police for the City of Los Angeles; Carol Parks, General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department; Kome Ajise, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments; Colonel Dermanoski, Delta Commander at Los Angeles Air Force Base; and Lauren Meister, Director of Operations for Los Angeles VOAD, Emergency Network of Los Angeles.
The discussion explored opportunities for cross-sector partnerships to enhance emergency management capabilities across mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. Panelists also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence, military-civilian coordination, and lessons learned from the 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires. Following the panel, attendees continued the conversation during a networking luncheon, fostering meaningful connections among public safety, government, nonprofit, and community leaders committed to strengthening regional resilience.
