Major Larry R. Boggs is currently the Joint Operations Center Chief, J-33 of the West Virginia National Guard. He is a Major in the Armor Branch and is also an Adjunct Professor at Mountain State University. Major Boggs has a total of 22 years of military services and is currently assigned WV-JFHQ, J3-3, Plans and Integration Officer/JOC Chief. US Decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, 2nd Award, and Army Commendation Medal, 4th Award. Major Boggs received an Associate Degree in Pulmonary Science from the University of Charleston, a Regents Bachelor of Arts from Marshall University, and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University. He is a Member of the National Guard Association of the United States-WV Affiliate, and Cub Master – Pack 19, Boy Scouts of America.
Rev. Ricardo Flippin is the Coordinator for CARE-NET: Caring Beyond the Yellow Ribbon – Supporting West Virginia Military Members and Their Families. Rev. Flippin developed and designed the CARE-NET initiative of the West Virginia Council of Churches utilizing the “Minnesota Army National Guard” model. He conducts local and regional workshops and seminars and an annual statewide Conference on Community and Military Working Together. Rev. Flippin has presented at the West Virginia Social Workers Conference, state Traumatic Brain Injury Conferences, West Virginia Counselors Conference, United States Senate on Veteran Affairs, and West Virginia State Senate on Veteran Affairs. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Religious Education minor from Southwest Texas State University and a Master of Education from Marshall University.
James J. Gianato is the Director of WV Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, appointed by Governor Joe Manchin in September 2005. He serves as the State Coordinating Officer and the Governor’s Authorized Representative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and as Chairman of the State Emergency Response Commission. Mr. Gianato has over 35 years experience in emergency response and has been an instructor in Incident Command and the National Incident Management System. He has been a certified Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement instructor for over 20 years. While in McDowell County, he successfully managed numerous federally declared disasters including floods in 2001 and 2002.
Director Gianato worked to develop legislation that created the WV Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board. He helped develop an NTIA application to provide high speed broadband access in WV including 1065 key facilities, which was awarded $126 million, and is a first step in developing a state of the art statewide public safety communications system for WV. Director Gianato played integral roles in the response to three major mine disasters at Sago, Aracoma, and the Upper Big Branch Mine. He played a major role in passing new mine legislation in WV which was modeled as the Miner Act by the U.S. Congress. In December 2010, he was appointed as the Homeland Security Advisor for WV by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.
Chaplain Mike Jarrett is currently the Public Information Officer, Firefighter/EMT for Kanawha county Emergency Ambulance Authority, Saint Albans Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office. He has over 30 years experience in Emergency Services, including 15 years experience as Emergency Services chaplain and CISM director for Kanawha County. He was formerly the WV Regional Response Team Public Information Officer and Chaplain. He was deployed as field chaplain for several Line of Duty Death Accidents, the Ghent Explosion, and Charleston, South Carolina firefighter fatalities. He also has 6 DHHR/OBHS deployments as field chaplain including UBB disaster.
Dr. Richard Kiley is currently the Executive Director for Appalachian Community Health Center. He is a Licensed Psychologist and has over 38 years of critical incident/disaster response. Rich is a Disaster Coordinator for ACHC, provides a variety of training including behavioral health response across the state and provides consultation to the WVDHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. In addition, Rich provides consultation and education to the WV Supreme Court including mental hygiene training.
Kate Long directed a multi-county flood recovery program after the 1985 flood. Carrying her musical instrument with her, she got people singing in homes and meetings. She found that certain hymns and familiar songs brought people to a deeper spiritual reality and opened hearts for more productive meetings. The Missouri Interfaith Council later brought her to that state for a series of programs. She will reflect on music in disaster recovery and get us singing so we can feel it ourselves. She writes for The Charleston Gazette, is heard on West Virginia Public Radio, and is a national award-winning songwriter.
Joy Messenger is currently the Associate Director for Appalachian Community Health Center, a comprehensive behavioral health center located in Elkins, West Virginia. In addition to behavioral health administration, Joy is the Disaster Coordinator for ACHC, provides behavioral health crisis response coordination across the state, training for behavioral health response across the state and consultation and assistance regarding behavioral health crisis response to the WVDHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. She has provided critical incident/disaster response for approximately 28 years. Joy is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Social Worker and an Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor.
Dennis Potter, LMSW, CAAC, FAAETS is an Approved Instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. He is a certified social worker who helped form one of the first community-based Crisis Response Teams in Michigan and was also one of the founding members of the Mid-West Michigan CISM Team and the Michigan Crisis Response Association. Dennis is recognized at the highest level of Expert by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Since 1989, he has helped train many of the CISM teams in Michigan and frequently is called upon for consultation. He was the mental health professional for one of the ICISF teams responding to the NYPD after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Dennis has conducted or consulted on all manner of traumatic events for communities, businesses, schools, police, fire and emergency services personnel, the U. S. Post Office, and community mental health agencies. He has presented at the last six International Critical Incident Stress Foundation World Congresses. Dennis was awarded the ICISF Excellence in Training and Education Award at the 2011 World Congress. He has written journal articles about working with Critical Incident Stress and coauthored the model for Post Action Staff Support PASS which is featured in the ICISF Advanced Training Workbook. Dennis is also a co-author of the book “Practical Concepts and Training exercises For Crisis Response Teams.”
Rev. Dennis Sparks is the Executive Director for the WV Council of Churches. Rev. Sparks graduated from Bethany College and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Texas Christian University (Brite Divinity School). He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ. He is currently serving as interim pastor with the First Christian Church in Ravenswood. In 2008, Dennis was recognized by the National Association of Social Workers, WV Chapter as the 2008 Public Citizen of the year and by the Citizens Action Group (CAG) of Charleston with the Thomas A. Knight Excalibur Award and WV Lawyers for Justice with its President’s Award.
Renelle Stallings, LCSW, CTS, is the Former Director of the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board. For 20 years she has specialized in trauma, grief and loss, and has designed, developed and provided core crisis intervention training in: Psychological First Aid, Critical Incident Stress Management, Disaster Behavioral Health, School-Centered All Hazards Management and the Psychosocial Impact of Disasters and Catastrophic Events, while serving as a volunteer regional coordinator then as the first executive director of Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board. As a FEMA Crisis Counseling Trainer, she has trained hundreds of personnel following 16 natural disasters in KY and 3 in WV. She provided consultation and clinical oversight of crisis intervention strike teams following the Heath High School Shooting, the Air Crash of Flight 5191 in Lexington, KY and over 2,000 responses to public and private schools, colleges and universities, businesses, public service agencies, law enforcement, fire, EMS and faith based communities. In 2004 she served as a consultant to the Singapore Ministry of Health following the Tsunami. Stallings is a member of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation as a recognized trainer. In 2008 she was awarded the ICISF Pioneering Award-Outstanding Service 1997-2008 and received the KY Distinguished Service Award 1998-2008. Renelle has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Social Work with over 36 years experience and is a certified trauma specialist holding several advanced credentials in traumatology. Stallings has retired from public service and is now private consultant, trainer, and volunteers with the Red Cross and the KY Community Crisis Response Team.
Rev. Joan Stewart is a 2003 graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. She is currently the Executive Director of WV Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps, a long term recovery agency that works in partnership with the Presbytery of WV hosting teams of volunteers from all over the US that bring hands of hope and help to victims of disaster—from flood to poverty. Rev Stewart is Co-Chair of the Long Term Recovery Committee for Southern WV.
Captain Raymond D. Stonestreet is the Commanding Officer of WV State Police Special Operations. He is assigned to the Mass Evacuation Planning Committee, State Safe Schools Committee (K-12, and Higher Education), Strategic National Stock Pile Committee, Avian Influenza Planning Committee, Critical Infrastructure Task Force, and several other committees. Captain Stonestreet has been with the WV State Police for 18 years and works closely with the State’s Homeland Security Advisor Jimmy Gianato in regards to homeland security matters. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity at United Theological Seminary.
Joseph C. Thornton is currently the Cabinet Secretary for the WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (WV DMAPS). He began his career in the US Air Force serving 10 years, during which he was stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Minot, North Dakota and Pirinclik Air Station, Turkey where he served in direct support of the nation’s first Gulf War efforts. He then received his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Marshall University, graduating with honors in May 1998. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Public Relations in May 2000, and was named Outstanding Master’s Program student. From October 2000 through January 2005, Joe served as public information specialist with WVDHHR and then became the Director of the Division of Rural Health, Bureau for Public Health. In September 2005 Joe became the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Operations and Media Relations for the WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. In December, 2009, Joe was appointed Acting Cabinet Secretary of the department and on June 2, 2010, Governor Joe Manchin III officially appointed Joe Thornton as Cabinet Secretary of DMAPS. Upon Governor Earl Ray Tomblin taking office in November, 2010, he asked Joe to remain in his role as Cabinet Secretary.
