Phone: (410) 706-1014
E-Mail: adeluna@law.umaryland.edu

Mr. Joshua Easton joined CHHS in January 2006 as a Law and Policy Analyst. Mr. Easton holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Economics, and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Louisville, as well as a J.D. from Tulane Law School. While in law school, Mr. Easton earned a certificate in environmental law, and clerked for Trustees for Alaska in Anchorage. He is admitted to practice law in New York and Maryland. In addition to his membership on the DHS COOP team, Mr. Easton is also conducting research on the National Response Plan for CHHS. In preparation for the DHS COOP training program, he completed FEMA COOP training, the CDP Instructor Training Certification Course, and Maryland’s Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) training. Prior to joining CHHS, Mr. Easton clerked for the Hon. Thomas H. Fulton (bankruptcy judge) in Louisville, Kentucky, the Hon. W. Richard Lee (bankruptcy judge) in Fresno, California, and the Hon. Louis A. Becker in the Circuit Court for Howard County, Maryland.

Phone: (410) 396-6179
E-Mail: jeaston@law.umaryland.edu

Mr. Jamar Herry joined the CHHS as a staff attorney in January 2007.  He received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in May 2001.  After college, Mr. Herry attended Howard University School of Law and graduated with his J.D. in May 2005.  Mr. Herry was admitted to practice law in Maryland in February 2006.  After law school, Mr. Herry clerked for the Honorable Dwight D. Jackson of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Maryland.  After completing his clerkship in December 2006, Mr. Herry joined CHHS to working under a contract with Maryland State Court System, which involves developing a Continuity of Operation Plan for Maryland State Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts.  In addition, Mr. Herry assists in grant writing and other legal research and writing projects for CHHS.  In August 2007, Mr. Herry joined the DHS COOP team.

Phone: (410) 706-3987
E-Mail: jherry@law.umaryland.edu

Ms. Jessica Pitts joined the CHHS as a Law and Policy Analyst in September 2006.  She attended the University of Southern California, and graduate in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology.  Ms. Pitts pursued her law degree at Tulane University, with a visiting semester at the University of Maryland School of Law, and graduated in 2006.  During law school, Ms. Pitts studied international human rights and comparative criminal procedure at the University of Toronto School of Law.  Ms. Pitts also worked on issues of AIDS, domestic violence and criminal defense in several non-profit agencies during law school. Ms. Pitts completed Instructor Training Certification at DHS’ Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama. She has also undergone training programs in HSEEP, the National Incident Management System, and COOP.  Ms. Pitts is currently a member of the DHS COOP team and is the field lead on the COOP planning project for the Maryland Judiciary.

Phone: (410) 706-8460
E-Mail: jpitts@law.umaryland.edu

Ms. Alexandra Podolny joined CHHS in May 2005 as a Law and Policy Analyst. Ms. Podolny holds a B.A. in Economics from UMD at College Park and a J.D. from the UMD School of Law. While in law school, she served as Associate Articles Editor for The Business Lawyer, clerked for the Law Offices of Harry S. Seigel and the Office of the Maryland Attorney General, and interned for the D.C. Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation. She is admitted to practice law in Maryland. In addition to her membership on the DHS COOP team, Ms. Podolny’s duties at CHHS have included drafting the second version of the Maryland COOP Manual that she used while working with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to develop COOP plans for numerous state and local agencies in Maryland. She is also a member of the UMD at Baltimore Campus Emergency Management Team, and is working with the Campus to develop its COOP plan. In preparation for the DHS COOP training program, she completed FEMA COOP training, the CDP’s Instructor Training Certification Course, and Maryland’s HSEEP training. Ms. Podolny currently serves as the program manager for the DHS COOP training program.

Phone: (410) 706-2153
E-Mail: apodolny@law.umaryland.edu

Mr. Michael Vesely joined the CHHS as a Law and Policy Analyst in February 2007. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, and graduated cum laude in 2002, with a B.A. in English Literature and another B.A. in Philosophy, with a concentration in analytical philosophy. After college, Mr. Vesely worked for the Harford County Board of Education. He then pursued his law degree at the University of Maryland School of Law and graduated cum laude in 2006. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland.  During law school, Mr. Vesely served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Health Care Law & Policy and he also worked in a criminal defense firm. Later, Mr. Vesely worked as a law clerk in the Montgomery County State's Attorney Office, where he was a member of the juvenile team. Mr. Vesely is currently a member of the DHS COOP team and is involved in disaster planning for both state and private entities. In addition to his membership on the DHS COOP team, Mr. Vesely is conducting research on developing COOP plans for IT professionals and institutes of higher learning.

Phone: (410) 706-2161
E-Mail: mvesely@law.umaryland.edu

Mr. Wilairat is a cum laude graduate of Tufts University and the University of Maryland School of Law.  He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Maryland.  Prior to law school, Mr. Wilairat worked as a paralegal in the civil fraud section of the United States Department of Justice and interned at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague.  While in law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Care Law & Policy and published an article on federal regulation of anabolic steroids.  Mr. Wilairat also was a member of the Moot Court Board, Vice President of the school's chapter of the American Constitution Society, and a judicial intern for the Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.  He is a recipient of the William P. Cunningham Award in recognition of exceptional achievement and service to the law school.  During the summer of 2005, he interned in Sarajevo at the War Crimes Chamber Project of the Court of Bosnia & Herzegovina.  Mr. Wilairat joined CHHS in August 2006 to work with the Maryland Transit Administration Police on a Con-Ops rail security project enhancing emergency response coordination among Maryland police agencies, with a focus on potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents.   Currently Mr. Wilairat is a member of the Department of Homeland Security COOP team.

Phone: (410) 706-3531
E-mail: awilairat@law.umaryland.edu