The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) - Pacific Center in Human Security (PCHS), in partnership with the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS), is proud to host the FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy (NEMBA) in the Territory. The three-week academy, taking place from May 18 through June 5, brings together recent graduates and continuing inclusive-Emergency Management (iEM) trainees, along with ASDHS personnel, for intensive emergency management training designed to strengthen preparedness and resilience across American Samoa.

        The Basic Academy serves as a gateway for individuals pursuing careers in emergency management. The program supports the early careers of emergency managers through classroom instruction, practical learning experiences, and collaboration with experienced instructors and fellow professionals.

        The training was coordinated through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Rosalee Tela-Shoulders, ASCC-PCHS Project Director and Human Security Department Chairperson, and Janna Liu-Fakatoumafi, Territorial Emergency Management Coordination Office (TEMCO) State Training Officer for the ASDHS, who worked together to bring the FEMA Basic Academy to the Territory.

        Leading the Basic Academy are FEMA instructors Lenora Borchardt and David Heiden. Borchardt is an Emergency Manager and Consultant with EPTEC, Inc., and also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Pierce College. Heiden is the Owner and Principal Consultant for Integrated Emergency Management, LLC, and also serves as a Curriculum Development and Trainer for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and an Emergency Management Specialist with Yale New Haven Health.

      “Emergency management is strongest when communities invest in building local knowledge and leadership,” said Lenora Borchardt, FEMA Basic Academy Lead Instructor. “It is an honor to work with participants here in American Samoa who are committed to protecting and serving their communities through preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.”

        The Basic Academy includes five classroom courses delivered over three weeks, totaling 120 hours of instruction. Courses cover emergency management foundations, threats and hazards, emergency operations planning, public information, and homeland security exercises. Participants must also complete one week of required FEMA Independent Study prerequisite courses prior to enrollment.

       ASCC-PCHS and ASDHS express appreciation to FEMA and all supporting partners for making the training possible and for continuing to invest in the professional development of emergency management personnel in American Samoa.

       For more information on the ASCC-PCHS inclusive-Emergency Management associate degree program, visit pchs.amsamoa.edu, contact Rosalee Shoulders at r.shoulders@amsamoa.edu, or call 699-2722 ext. 4210. For more information about FEMA training, contact Janna Liu-Fakatoumafi at j.liu-fakatoumafi@asdhs.as.gov or call 699-3800.