Curtis Brown is an experienced homeland security and emergency management executive, educator, and disaster equity thought leader. His experience includes developing pioneering policies and programs, building partnerships, driving innovation, enhancing team performance, and managing complex organizations. His diverse emergency management and homeland security work experiences include key roles on the federal, state, and local levels. Over his career, Curtis has advised three Governors and the Chair of a U.S. House of Representative Committee on Homeland Security. Curtis currently serves as Visiting Senior Practitioner in Residence in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU. He supports the work of the Research Institute for Social Equity (RISE) and teaches courses within Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program. He previously served as the State Coordinator (Director) of Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), leading the agency during its most active period in its history. Curtis is the co-founder of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM). He is nationally recognized expert for promoting diversity and operationalizing equity in emergency management policies and programs for historically marginalized individuals and communities. Curtis has provided expert testimony before the United States Congress and served as a keynote speaker or panelist for numerous national and international conferences.

Curtis received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Radford University, Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech, and Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University. Curtis is recognized as a Certified Emergency Manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is a graduate of FEMA’s Emergency Management Executive Academy, Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program. He serves on the Equitable Climate Resilience Advisory Panel for the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), Resilient Virginia Board of Directors, and National Emergency Management Association Board of Directors. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and recognitions, including in 2022 being named Virginia Emergency Management Association’s (VEMA) Professional of the Year.