Homeland Security Grad Bridges Safety and Technology

The freshman who walked onto the baseball team at the Daytona Beach Campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University didn’t have a definite game plan. He had a general interest in public safety, but wasn’t sure what direction that should take.

“When I walked into that first Homeland Security class at Embry-Riddle, I was immediately hooked. The program was still young, but it was growing rapidly, and I felt right at home. I thought – I didn’t know this existed, but it’s awesome, and exactly what I want to do,” recalls James Podlucky, reflecting on the sense of discovery that led to his career in emergency management. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security in 2012.

Raised in New York, James was deeply influenced by a family tradition of public service—his father and uncle were firefighters, and his sister is a police officer with the New York Police Department. Discovering the Homeland Security program enabled him to carve out his own independent, yet related, path.

The integration of independent studies and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training into his courses not only deepened his appreciation for the impact he could have but also equipped him with practical skills and certifications, blending rigorous academics with real-world application.

He continues to refine his expertise. “One of my favorite classes in college was HS410, Exercise Design and Evaluation. I later ended up taking a national FEMA course that built on that knowledge of how to train first responders and emergency management teams, the Master Exercise Practitioner program,” he says.

In his early career as an emergency management officer, he worked for Sarasota County government, served as deputy emergency management coordinator for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and was a training and exercise coordinator for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. This city, county and state-level work familiarized him with the network of stakeholders that emergency management must inform and mobilize, from the National Guard to health services, from Florida Power & Light Company to supermarket chains and other key resources.

Fieldwork helped him identify a significant gap. "I've always had a passion for emergency management, from that first class at Embry-Riddle. And then, as I worked in the field, I noticed a huge gap in the technology used to manage those disasters."

He is closing that gap at Everbridge, a technology-focused provider of critical event management tools. The company’s suite of products includes a mass notification system for rapid communication during crises and a platform that integrates threat assessment with incident management. Real-time tracking and communication capabilities help coordinate responses effectively, while automated IT disruption responses maintain operational continuity.

By leveraging data analytics and advanced communication strategies, James is advancing his company’s mission of “empowering resilience” and enhancing the safety of individuals around the world.

Based in Sarasota, his experiences during Florida's hurricane seasons add a personal dimension to his professional perspective. As a husband and father of two young girls, James understands the importance of helping families remain informed, responsible and resourceful.

His shift to a more technology-focused role is a new challenge he enjoys. "I absolutely love what I do. I continue to follow the field, support it in different ways and continue to learn about it."