ETHOS Live! "Things We Learned In The Fires"

On May 6, ETHOS Live! returns with a timely and powerful conversation on disaster resilience. In the wake of the fires that swept through our region earlier this year, we’re bringing together emergency response leaders, engineers, scientists, and community partners for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how we prepare for and recover from crisis.

From the chaos of emergency response to the complexity of rebuilding, this event offers a rare look at the decisions, failures, breakthroughs, and human stories that shape our collective resilience. What can we learn? What must change? And how do we rebuild stronger communities in the process?

Made possible by the generous support of Ken Klein, USC Trustee and Viterbi alum, BMEE ’82.

Key Discussions & Insights

• Lessons from the Front Lines
  Firsthand accounts from leaders who manage post-disaster operations in California.
  
• Ethics in Crisis
  What ethical frameworks guide decision-making during disaster response and recovery, from search and rescue to rebuilding?
  
• Engineering Resilience
  How engineers and military planners are rethinking infrastructure, logistics, and emergency preparedness in a changing world.
  
• Leadership Under Pressure
  Stories of resilience and innovation from military and emergency leaders facing the impossible.
  
• Community Recovery and Trust
  The human side of disaster—how to rebuild not just structures, but trust, morale, and community bonds.
  
  Get to know our speakers:

Stephanie Elam (Moderator)
A CNN national correspondent with extensive field reporting on disasters, from wildfires to hurricanes, Stephanie will guide the conversation with clarity, compassion, and journalistic depth. Her experience covering frontline stories helps bridge the gap between experts and the public.

Brig. Gen. William C. Hannan, Jr.
Commander of Task Force Phoenix, the U.S. Army's rapid disaster response unit, Brig. Gen. Hannan has led military infrastructure operations through some of the nation’s most complex climate events. He brings deep insight into engineering solutions under extreme pressure and the role of the military in safeguarding civilian life.

Dr. Costas Synolakis
A leading expert in disaster science and tsunami engineering, Dr. Synolakis is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His groundbreaking work on coastal resilience, climate risk, and early warning systems has informed global disaster preparedness strategies from California to the Mediterranean.

Deputy Fire Chief Larry Collins
Deputy Chief of Cal OES Fire & Rescue and a nationally recognized leader in urban search and rescue, Larry Collins has led multi-agency coordination efforts in the wake of California’s most devastating disasters. Most recently, he oversaw post-fire secondary search operations involving US&R task forces, forensic teams, and human remains search canines. His expertise spans disaster planning for complex events like earthquakes, tsunamis, and urban conflagrations.

Dr. Gisele “Gigi” Ragusa
An award-winning professor at USC and expert in engineering education and ethical innovation, Dr. Ragusa focuses on how communities learn, adapt, and recover through technology, education, and policy. She brings a human-centered lens to resilience—bridging science, society, and the people most affected by disaster.