Speakers

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, a prominent figure in the realm of fire safety and emergency response, served as the U.S. Fire Administrator, a role she filled with distinction from October 2021 to January 2025. Under her leadership, the U.S. Fire Administration saw the implementation of groundbreaking initiatives, such as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), which will revolutionized national emergency response analytics by replacing a legacy data system that had been in place for nearly five decades. Dr. Moore-Merrell's foresight and ability to secure federal government funding have been instrumental in ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality outcomes for this project. As U.S. Fire Administrator, she co-chaired the Commission on Wildfire Mitigation and Management, established by the bi-partisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act, leading to148 wildfire related recommendations being delivered to Congress in 2023. Her tenure is further marked by her role as the visionary creator and chair of the Inaugural World Fire Congress, held in May 2024. This monumental event, orchestrated under the auspices of DHS/FEMA and the U.S. Department of State, brought together top fire officials from across the globe to foster international dialogue and collaboration on fire safety issues.

Dr. Moore-Merrell's influence extends beyond these significant projects; she has built a reputation as a transformative change agent and has been pivotal in uniting the nation’s fire service under a unified vision known as #FireServiceOneVoice. Her strategic prowess is evident in her engagement with stakeholders to develop a robust Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 aimed at enhancing preparedness and resilience within fire and emergency medical services. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Moore-Merrell helmed the International Public Safety Data Institute as President and CEO from April 2019 to October 2021, where she harnessed technology to deliver life-saving insights to public safety agencies. Her long-standing commitment to fire safety research and data analytics was well-established during her tenure at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) from October 1993 to April 2019. As Chief Executive of Research and Data Analytics, she led a significant division within this male-dominated organization, driving strategy and mission execution with remarkable expertise.

Dr. Moore-Merrell's academic credentials are equally impressive, having earned a Doctorate in Public Health with a focus on Emergency Response System Quality Performance Metrics from The George Washington University - Milken Institute School of Public Health. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the same institution, where she graduated magna cum laude. The impact of her work has been widely recognized by multiple fire service organizations through numerous accolades, including but not limited to the James O. Page Award for Emergency Medical Services Leadership and the Mason Lankford Award by the National Advisory Council of the Congressional Fire Service Institute. With over 8,500 followers on LinkedIn and an extensive network of professional connections, Dr. Moore-Merrell's influence on public safety policy is profound. She currently serves on Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards for XPRIZE Wildfire, BurnBot, N5 Sensors, Seneca, Vibrant Planet, HAAS Alert, FireDome, Convective Capital, and more. Her contributions continue to shape industry standards and enhance operational effectiveness within emergency response communities both domestically and internationally.