Crisis Lab adds veteran emergency manager Michael Sharon to advisory board

By AI, Created 8:16 AM UTC, May 29, 2026, /AGP/ – Crisis Lab has named Michael J. Sharon to its newly formed Advisory Board, tapping his decades of federal and state emergency management experience to help review intelligence products and guide new offerings. The appointment gives Crisis Lab access to a longtime homeland security network as the company expands its crisis-management platform.

Why it matters: - Sharon brings more than 32 years of emergency management experience across federal and state agencies. - Crisis Lab is using the appointment to sharpen its intelligence products, product development, and institutional relationships. - The move adds external practitioner input as Crisis Lab works with a global audience of 20,000+ professionals.

What happened: - Crisis Lab appointed Michael J. Sharon to its newly established Advisory Board on June 2, 2026. - Sharon will serve as a strategic adviser. - His role includes senior peer review on intelligence products, guidance on programs and products, and introductions across his federal emergency management and homeland security network. - Crisis Lab said the Advisory Board will provide independent guidance on program and product development, institutional partnerships, and alignment with practitioner needs.

The details: - Sharon is a retired U.S. federal employee and an adjunct faculty member at Millersville University. - His career has included roles at FEMA, USDA, the U.S. Department of State, and the Maryland Department of the Environment. - At USDA, Sharon served as Chief of Emergency Programs in the Office of Homeland Security. - In that role, he led the department’s worldwide Operations Center and developed interagency homeland security policy. - Sharon also served as USDA’s adviser to the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Strategic Group. - During 13 years at FEMA, he was Deputy Superintendent of the Emergency Management Institute. - He also led disaster operations as Chief of the National Response Coordination Center’s Gold Team, Chief of Region III’s Regional Response Coordination Center, and Incident Management Assistance Team Leader. - Earlier in his career, he developed all-hazards emergency management and continuity plans for the State Department. - He also served as Maryland’s exercise planner, became Assistant Director for Operations at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and led the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Emergency Response Division. - Sharon is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completed 28 years of service in the active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve. - His education includes graduate degrees from the U.S. Army War College, the University of Baltimore, and Norwich University. - Sharon also holds an undergraduate degree from LaSalle University and completed the Executive Leaders Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. - Crisis Lab says it is an IACET-accredited crisis management intelligence and professional development platform. - The company says its publications, courses, podcast, and newsletter reach more than 20,000 professionals globally. - More information is available on Crisis Lab’s website.

Between the lines: - The appointment suggests Crisis Lab wants more credibility from practitioners with direct emergency-response and homeland-security experience. - Sharon’s background spans federal policy, operational response, and interagency coordination, which matches the company’s advisory focus. - The board structure also points to a broader effort to connect product development with real-world user needs rather than internal assumptions.

What’s next: - Sharon will begin reviewing pre-publication intelligence products from Crisis Lab. - He will also advise on future program and product development within his areas of expertise. - Crisis Lab is expected to use his network for introductions to institutional partners and subject matter experts.