Dr. Arthur J. Simental is a homeland security and emergency management professor, researcher, Certified Emergency Manager, and disaster wargaming creator with more than 16 years of experience across government, public health, emergency services, critical infrastructure, and the private sector. He is Founder and CEO of Simental Industries Ltd. and EM Disaster Gaming and previously served as a Public Health Advisor with the CDC. An IAEM-USA Top 40 Under 40 recipient and published author, Arthur’s work combines emergency management practice, systems science, research, and wargaming to develop new approaches to preparedness, training, and decision-making.

Joe is a 45-year emergency response veteran specializing in emergency management, preparedness, incident management, contingency planning, and exercises. He chairs the Greater Harris County Local Emergency Planning Committee, serves as President of IAEM Region VI, and is an Adviser on the Preparedness Leadership Council. He also volunteers with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as a Flotilla Commander and National Division Chief for the Auxiliary University Program. A Coast Guard-qualified incident management professional, Joe holds multiple advanced emergency management, continuity, homeland protection, exercise, and port management credentials.

Stephanie is an epidemiologist and emergency management professional whose work spans global health security, infectious disease modeling, emergency preparedness, One Health, and simulation exercises. As a consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO), she supported global preparedness and response initiatives across diverse international settings.

Domestically, Stephanie has worked with HHS, the CDC Foundation, and state public health agencies, where she has led and supported infectious disease and pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

Stephanie holds graduate degrees in infectious disease control, with a focus on mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, and emergency and disaster management. She is currently completing a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).

As EMDG’s Director of Technological Innovations, Stephanie leads the development of technology-enabled wargaming and simulation approaches and serves as the lead developer of Consequence Engine.