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Andrew Roszak  

Executive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness & Author of the "Preparing for the Unexpected Series" Books

Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, serves as the Executive Director for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, as Chief of Preparedness, Health and Environment for the Region II Head Start Association, and as an adjunct professor in the school of community and environmental health at Old Dominion University. Roszak is also the author of the three-book series "Preparing for the Unexpected" – which includes: "Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter" (A 2020 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Award winner in two categories), "Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency," and "Recovering and Reopening after a Disaster."

Roszak has worked on emergency preparedness issues at the local, regional, state, and federal level for the past twenty years. He was formerly the senior director of emergency preparedness at Child Care Aware of America, senior preparedness advisor supporting Super Bowl 46, senior public health advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and senior director of environmental health, pandemic preparedness, and catastrophic response at the National Association of County and City Health Officials, where he worked with the CDC and the 3,100 local health departments in the United States each day to help prepare communities for pandemics and disasters. Roszak began his emergency preparedness career as a firefighter, paramedic and certified as a hazardous materials technician in the Chicago-land area.

After leaving the fire service, Roszak attended law school at Southern Illinois University, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree and Master of Public Administration degree. Roszak’s bachelor’s degree is in Fire Science Management from the Chicago Fire Academy / SIU Off-Campus Programs Division. Upon moving to Washington, DC in 2008, Roszak served as Health Policy Fellow for the United States Senate Budget and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees during the 110th and 111th Congress. Roszak is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the District of Columbia and before the US Supreme Court. Roszak is currently enrolled in Harvard University’s Early Education Leadership Program.

Andrew has been recognized for his professional contributions from numerous organizations, including: Firefighter of the Year, Red Cross Everyday Hero Award, City of El Paso Texas Pillar of Public Health Award, and been featured as a Sesame Street Hero.

Speech Topics


Active Shooter Preparedness

nfortunately, active shooter events are on the rise. There were 692 mass shootings in 2021, and 647 in 2022. Sadly, we need to train for these events just as we would for a fire, tornado, flood, or earthquake.

Andrew Roszak is a nationally recognized safety, security and preparedness expert. During Andy's sessions participants learn evidence-based techniques and strategies on how to prepare for and respond to an active shooter incident. Participants learn how to conduct drills, develop a customized plan, and work together to ensure you are best prepared.

Participants gain a deeper understanding of active shooter situations:

  • Describe the ways to increase security within your program.
  • Summarize at least two lessons learned from previous mass shooting incidents.
  • Explain how to conduct effective active shooter drills.
  • Define common characteristics of mass shooters.
  • Describe the 3 different response actions which can be used during a violent event.

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