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Security Studies Prof Graduates FEMA Academy

September 16, 2015

Dr. James Phelps of Angelo State University’s security studies faculty recently graduated from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Emergency Management Basic Academy conducted at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Md.

Dr. Phelps (right) receives his graduation certificate from Matthew Prager of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. Dr. Phelps (right) receives his graduation certificate from Matthew Prager of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute.  An assistant professor of homeland security, Phelps completed the FEMA Basic Academy that included courses in Foundations of Emergency Management; Science of Disaster; Planning: Emergency Operations; Exercise Design; and Public Information and Warning.

“The ultimate goal,” Phelps said, “is to get our students FEMA certification for completing the Basic Academy as a component part of their ASU bachelor’s degree in border and homeland security. As a certified FEMA instructor for the Basic Academy, I’m working to build classes that will put the FEMA curriculum into our existing and future courses.”

Phelps has also been accepted into the FEMA Advanced Academy and will begin attending those classes in March as an avenue to improve ASU’s graduate emergency management courses in the Master of Science in homeland security degree plan. 

“I’m also hoping that ASU will be able to subsequently offer graduate credit to students completing the FEMA Advanced Academy,” Phelps said. 

An ASU faculty member since 2010, Phelps has also taught at Sam Houston State University and Central Texas College following a 21-year career in the U.S. Navy. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on various aspects of homeland security, cyber security and criminal justice and recently co-authored a textbook titled “Border Security.” He holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University. 

ASU also offers undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in emergency management through the Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice.