HSAC@SPP's James Featherstone Selected as HSToday's 2019 Homeland Security Person of the Year

The Pepperdine School of Public Policy is proud to announce James Featherstone, executive director at the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the School of Public Policy (HSAC@SPP), has been named HSToday's 2019 Homeland Security Person of the Year on the state and local level. 

Featherstone has more than 30 years experience working to ensure Los Angeles is resilient and prepared in crisis situations. Since 2016, he has led HSAC@SPP as the driving force uniting all sectors in disaster preparedness in Los Angeles, California. 

Dean Pete Peterson marked the award, “It’s been an honor to work with Jim Featherstone since we launched this new initiative in crisis leadership and disaster response. This award is well-deserved, of course, celebrating Jim's terrific career, but also his recent work leading an innovative, “pracademic” organization.”

Featherstone was nominated for this prestigious award by the Los Angeles Police Department, which noted, “He has been instrumental in leading the charge to catalyze and support a multi-jurisdictional and comprehensive approach to preparedness, security, and resiliency in the Los Angeles region by providing innovative technology and opportunities for engagement, capacity-building, and partnerships for the public, private, and civic sectors across the region.” Adding, “Under Jim Featherstone’s leadership, HSAC totally pivoted its focus to better serve the evolving needs of local crisis managers. Under his leadership, with his expert guidance and his deep relationships, and under the incredible influence of his reputation, in a few short years HSAC has emerged as a major contributing force throughout the Los Angeles region.”