Mr. Richard “Rich” Vasquez is well versed in the design, development, conduct, and evaluation of interagency preparedness assessments, plans, training, and Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercises with more than 35 years of experience in civilian as well as military arenas. He is a certified Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) who has managed exercises and direct support projects throughout the nation that included first responder agencies from the local to the federal level. Some of the exercise scenarios developed included public health, active shooter/hostage barricade, terrorism, bioterrorism, and natural or manmade disasters. Mr. Vasquez also developed exercises for non-English speaking populations.

Mr. Vasquez has lent his expertise to numerous exercise projects, including serving as Project Manager and Facilitator for numerous Active Threat Tabletop Exercises (TTX) and Full-Scale Exercises (FSE); Project Manager and Facilitator for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services TTX; as Lead Designer and Facilitator for the DHS/G&T Operation Crystal Clear TTX; Project Manager for the DHS/G&T-sponsored Operation Vigilant Sentry Senior Leaders Seminar (SLS). He has also served as the Project Manager for exercises involving the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins and emergency response elements that support them.

During Mr. Vasquez’s last tour in the Marine Corps, he served as the Training/Operations Chief for the Senior Marine Corps Training Team. He was responsible for developing and conducting the Force Deployment Planning and Execution course and the Reception Staging and Onward Integration course for Fleet Marine Forces. It was conducted at all Marine Corps installations worldwide. Mr. Vasquez also developed and presented a course on the Joint Operational Planning and Execution System to Senior Level Schools in the military, Command and General Staff, and the General Officer Warfighting Program (GWOP).