Welcome to New Orleans and the 2026 Salvation Army Disaster Professionals Conference! Sponsored by The Salvation Army’s USA East, USA South, and Canada & Bermuda Territories, the event brings together more than seventy-five Salvation Army disaster professionals and key decision-makers from 26 states and two countries with the goal of better preparing The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) program for future natural disasters and catastrophic emergencies.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Mon, April 27: Travel Day, Registration (4:00 PM) and Welcome Dinner (6:00 PM)
Tues, April 28: Plenary, Workshop and Talkshop Sessions / Evening on Your Own
Wed, April 29: Plenary Session / Special Event at the National WWII Museum
Thurs, April 30: Plenary, Workshop, and Talkshop Sessions / Special Event Dinner on the Creole Queen Riverboat
Fri, May 1: Plenary / Awards and Special Recognition / Departure (noon)
Wed, April 29: Plenary Session / Special Event at the National WWII Museum
Thurs, April 30: Plenary, Workshop, and Talkshop Sessions / Special Event Dinner on the Creole Queen Riverboat
Fri, May 1: Plenary / Awards and Special Recognition / Departure (noon)
Special Guests
We are proud to confirm the following special guests and plenary session speakers!
Captain David Brittle
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Captain David Brittle’s parents were the commanding officers of the city. As the storm bore down, Major Richard and Fay Brittle chose to remain behind, providing shelter to a growing number of refugees with no way to evacuate. In honor of their work, Captain David Brittle continues to share his parents’ story and rescue. Captain David Brittle is currently the commanding officer of The Salvation Army Enid OK Corps.
Mr. Deke Copenhaver
Deke Copenhaver is Principal of Copenhaver Consulting, LLC in Augusta, Georgia, and Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Long Term Recovery Group, bringing extensive experience as a keynote speaker, leadership coach, campaign strategist, and host of The Changemaker podcast. He is the author of The Changemaker: The Art of Building Better Leaders, a Movement Partner with the national nonpartisan organization Builders, and a member of the Forward Party Advisory Board. He previously served as Mayor of Augusta from 2005–2014, earning recognition as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “100 Most Influential Georgians.”
Majors Dwayne & Marion Durham
Majors Durham are both long-time Salvationists and have served as officers for 28 years. They met and married in 1994 in Athens, GA. They were commissioned and ordained in 1997. They served as Corps Officers in Baltimore Middle River corps, Cambridge, MD before becoming Divisional Youth Leaders in the Kentucky/Tennessee Division. Just prior to their appointment in Greater New Orleans the Durhams served as corps officers in Lewisville, TX.
Dr. Joseph G. Ferko III, DO, MS
Dr. Joseph G. Ferko III is a globally recognized leader in Disaster and Emergency Medicine with more than 45 years of experience. As founder of EMS Innovations, Inc., he has developed and patented numerous products that have transformed disaster‑response capabilities worldwide. Dr. Ferko has served as a senior advisor to major manufacturers, over 20 international corporations, and multiple U.S. federal agencies. A prolific educator and author, he is a sought‑after speaker whose work continues to influence global emergency‑response systems.
Lt. Colonel Barbara A. George
Lt. Colonel Barbara A. George has served as an officer of The Salvation Army for 36 years and currently serves as Divisional Leader for the Eastern Pennsylvania/Delaware Division alongside her husband, Lt.-Colonel Edgar C. George, Jr. Her ministry includes corps leadership, divisional headquarters appointments, and extensive involvement in Emergency Disaster Services, responding to national and international disasters including Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 Ground Zero, and multiple hurricanes. She holds degrees in Community Ministry and Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and is passionate about supporting individuals and communities impacted by crisis.
Major Todd Hawks
Major Todd Hawks was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in 1978 and has served nearly five decades in corps, divisional, territorial, and national leadership roles across the Southern United States. His ministry includes service as a Corps Officer, Area Commander in major metropolitan regions, and senior leadership appointments at Divisional and National Headquarters, including National Public Affairs Secretary, National Disaster Services Director, and, most recently, Territorial Community Relations and Development Secretary for the USA Southern Territory. He and his wife, Major Bethany Hawks, have served together in partnership throughout their ministry and are the proud parents of three children.
Mr. Brock Long
Confirmed by Congress in 2017, William B. “Brock” Long served as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He has more than sixteen years of experience in emergency management, including as the director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Colonel Deborah Sedlar
Colonel Deb Sedlar is the Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army’s U.S. Southern Territory. Since being commissioned in 1989, Colonel Sedlar has served in numerous appointments in the Eastern Territory, National Headquarters and International Headquarters where she was the Executive Secretary to the General. She has been the Chief of the Southern Territory since January 2023, where her greatest joy is continuing to lead individuals into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Tuesday Workshops
Presentations by Disaster Experts and Partner Organizations
Chutes & Ladders: The Long-Term Recovery Journey
Case Study: Med Jets Flight 056 Plane Crash in Philadelphia
Case Study: The Bucksnort TN Industrial Explosion
Food Service & Safety: How Cambro Can Help
How to Survive an Inter-Territorial IMT Deployment
Post-Deployment Care for Disaster Workers
Videography & Photography: Tips and Tricks for EDS Professionals
Working With Indigenous Peoples
Thursday Workshops
Presentations by Disaster Experts and Partner Organizations2025 Texas Floods: Response and Casework Innovations
Disaster Base Camps: Set-up, Operation and Demobilization
A View From the Consequence Group on a National Special Security Event
Case Study: 2024/2025 Canadian Wildfires
Case Study: Hurricane Melissa – The Jamaican Response
Introducing the New Online Disaster Management System
New EDS Directors’ Forum
Marketing Is Deployment: Funding the Mission Before, During, and After the Storm
Talkshops
Facilitated Discussions on Key Topics in Disaster Services Work
Disaster Training
Divisional Training Programs
Emotional & Spiritual Care
Long-Term Recovery
Partnerships/VOAD
Public Information
Response
Vendors / Supplies / Purchasing
Special Events
National World War II Museum
(Wednesday lunch and tour sponsored by Embassy Specialty Vehicles)
Named by Tripadvisor as the #1 Attraction in New Orleans, The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations can understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Learn More
The Riverboat Creole Queen
(Thursday dinner on the river)
Step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era with a cruise aboard the Paddle-wheeler Creole Queen! Fellowship with conference attendees while you enjoy a New Orlean-inspired buffet of great food and relax admire scenic views of the Mississippi River of the unforgettable skyline of the Big Easy from the French Quarter to the Huey P. Long Bridge. Learn More
La Pavillon Hotel
833 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA
Our conference venue is the glamorous and grand, completely reimagined Le Pavillon Hotel. This Marriott property welcomes guests with a lavish design that honors its storied past and promises to turn history ‘upside’. Nicknamed the “Belle of New Orleans,” Le Pavillon is located just minutes away from the French Quarter in the Central Business District. This classically elegant historic hotel with furnishings from the Grand Hotel in Paris is updated with modern amenities and plenty of New Orlean charm, including La Pavilion’s signature late night treat: free peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Learn More
Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors helping to make this event successful!
Do you have a product, vehicle, technology, or service that needs to be shared with our cadre of disaster service professionals? Sponsorship opportunities for this event are now open. Download our Sponsorship Prospectus or contact Ms. Tyra Gore at tyra.gore@uss.salvationarmy.org for more information.
For More information
For more information about this event or to register, please contact your divisional or territorial disaster team.
