Christopher Edward Mandel

Title
Assistant Professor of the Practice
Email
Department
Department of Business Administration
College
College of Business

Office Hours

Tuesdays 9-10 am Central Time & Thursdays 4-5 pm Central Time

Areas of Expertise

Enterprise Risk Management

Strategic Risk Management

Traditional Risk Management

Insurance and Alternative Risk Transfer Strategies

Organizational and Risk Governance

Strategy

Business Continuity and Resilience

Private and Public Company Governance Boards and Advisory Boards

Risk Expert in Faith-Based Institutions

Christopher Edward Mandel

Christopher E. Mandel is an assistant professor of the practice. He teaches Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and is an industry expert in related areas. He has been a senior risk advisor to USI Southwest. Mr. Mandel is the retired senior vice president of strategic solutions for Sedgwick and the founding director of the Sedgwick Institute. He is the founder, president and managing consultant of Excellence in Risk Management, LLC. From 2001 to 2010, Mr. Mandel was the chief risk officer for USAA Group. At USAA, he designed, developed and led the award-winning enterprise-wide risk management program.

Mr. Mandel has more than 35 years of experience in insurance and large global corporate risk management. He pioneered the development of integrated risk management at USAA, where S&P rated USAA as “excellent” and a “leader in ERM” during their first evaluation of USAA using their new ERM rating criteria in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, Treasury and Risk Magazine recognized USAA’s ERM program when it bestowed the Alexander Hamilton Award for “Excellence in ERM” on USAA.

He has served the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) as chief risk officer (2003-2004) and president (2002-2003) in various capacities over the years, including as a member of the board and executive council from 1998 to 2004. He has held numerous and varied appointments to various industry boards and advisory groups. He teaches risk management and related topics for RIMS, the National Alliance, George Mason University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the International Center for Captive Insurance Education.                            

Mr. Mandel received his B.S. in Business Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master's in Business Administration from George Mason University. He holds numerous certifications and designations, including the CRM, RIMS CRMP, C31000, RIMS Fellow, CPCU, ARM-E and AIC. He is a frequent industry speaker, teacher and author. He was named Risk Manager of the Year in 2004, was voted in as a member of Risk Who’s Who (RWW) in 2008, received RIMS’ highest honor of the "Goodell Award" for lifetime achievement in 2016 and received the Certificate in Risk Governance from the DCRO Institute.

  • M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration, George Mason University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Business: Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • RIMS - Certified Risk Management Professional - RIMS - Risk Management Society
  • RIMS Fellow (RF) - Risk and Insurance Management Society
  • Associate in Risk Management (ARM) - Insurance Institute of America
  • Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) - American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters
  • Associate in Claims (AIC) - Insurance Institute of America
  • HROM 510: Enterprise Risk Management
HROM 510

The Current State of Enterprise Risk Management, International Risk Management Institute (2021)

The Future State of Enterprise Risk Management, International Risk Management Institute (2022)

The Environmental, Social and Governance Dilemma (ESG), International Risk Management Institute (2022)

Preparing for the Next Pandemic, International Risk Management Institute (2023)

Risk Appetite: A Crucial Consideration For Effective Board Risk Oversight, Journal of Risk Management in Financial Institutions, Vol. 17, 2168–182© Henry Stewart Publications 1752-8887, (January 2024)

The Board’s Role In Fostering Innovation, The Corporate Board, (November 2024)

Risk Management and Innovation, IRMI Spotlight, International Risk Management Institute, (February 2025)

Insurance Co. Claims – 4 years 

Broker/Consultant – 2 years

Risk Sub-functions – 5 years

#1 Risk Leader – 21 years

Risk & Insurance Consultant – 16 years

Strategic Roles – 8 years

Industry Contributor  & Thought Leader– 30+ years

Instructor/Teacher/Facilitator - since 1990

Associate in Claims (AIC) The Institutes - 1984

Charter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) The Institutes - 1989

Associate in Risk Management (ARM) - 1992

Certification in Controlled Self-Assessment (CCSA) The Institute of Internal Audit - 2004

RIMS Fellow (RF) The Risk Management Society (RIMS) - 2013

Associate in Enterprise Risk Management (ARMe) The Institutes - 2015

Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) – 2016

Certified Risk Manager (CRM) Global Risk Management Institute – 2017

Certificate in Risk Governance, The Risk Governance Institute (DCRO) - 2022

Member and Former President, Risk Management Society (since 1989)

Member, The Risk Governance Institute (since 2022)



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Risk Manager of the Year - 2004 (Risk Management Society)

Goodell Award (lifetime achievement in risk management) - 2016 (Risk Management Society)