Todd Isaacson

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Dept of Human Factors, Safety and Social Sciences
College
College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Todd Isaacson is an adjunct faculty member and teaches various courses in Emergency Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery.

Dr. Isaacson received his M.S. in Emergency Management from Capella University, Ph.D. in Public Safety from Capella University and a Graduate Certificate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (217th Session).

He is a Subject Matter Expert with real-world experience built over a 27-year career in policing and critical incident management in natural and man-made events. His research interests include Critical Incident Leadership, Command and Control and public safety ethics.

In 2003, Dr. Isaacson led the largest terrorism drill east of the Mississippi post 9/11 with participants from law enforcement agencies including the Buffalo FBI SWAT Team, the NY State Police SRT Team and Tactical teams from the three southern tier counties in Western NY. The Deputy Direct of Homeland Security was present from New York City to witness the drill. The drill also included Emergency Medical services (EMS) with volunteer victims that were transported to the local trauma unit via ambulance and medivac helicopters. The drill provided many lessons and identified shortcomings in our region’s disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Beyond his scholar-practitioner achievements, Dr. Isaacson holds his Commercial, Instrument, multi-engine airplane and rotor ratings and flew medivac helicopter in Western NY for the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.


  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Public Safety: Criminal Justice, Capella University
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Public Safety: Emergency Management, Capella University

  • Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Commercial Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration