State health program manager earns homeland security master’s degree from naval postgraduate school
MONTEREY, Calif. – Don Neuert, Program Manager with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, DHS, Madison, completed a Master of Arts in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security on March 31.
Neuert has held various state public health and healthcare emergency preparedness positions within the Division of Public Health over his 19 years in DHS. He currently serves as the State Emergency Medical Countermeasures Program Manager in the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Health Care where he coordinates emergency medications needed in response to bioterrorism incidents or infectious disease outbreaks impacting Wisconsin communities.
In his community, Neuert is an 11-year elected official in the Beaver Dam City Council. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Administrative Committee which oversees city finances/budgets, grants, licenses, personnel, and strategic planning. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Neuert and his family have resided in Beaver Dam since October 1999.
During the 18-month online and in-residence program, he collaborated with homeland security officials from across the nation on current policy, strategy and organizational design challenges. He wrote a thesis titled, “Closing the Gap: To what extent do socioeconomic barriers impede response to emerging public health threats?”
Neuert is the recipient of the prestigious “Zimbardo Award” which is given to the member of each graduating cohort who best embodies Dr. Philip Zimbardo’s example of combined scientific and applied excellence. It recognizes the student whose outstanding analyses and keen insights exemplify the best in academic scholarship as applied to the solution of emergent national challenges. Candidates for the award are nominated, and the recipient chosen, by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) faculty awards committee.
Twenty-eight CHDS students participated in the ceremony. They represent a snapshot of the homeland security profession, including professionals from the fields of homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, public health, education and city/county government.
CHDS, located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), is the nation’s homeland security educator. Master’s degree students develop critical thinking, leadership and policy skills during a rigorous 18-month program. Each graduate completes a thesis on a current issue facing his/her jurisdiction. These theses often translate into policy and practice. The CHDS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (For information, visit www.chds.us.)
ABOUT NPS: The mission of the Naval Postgraduate School is to provide unique advanced education and research programs in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the U.S. and Allied armed forces as well as enhance the security of the United States. For information, visit www.nps.edu.
