Devra Schwartz is a distinguished Safety and Security Consultant with a notable career spanning various sectors, including private businesses, governmental agencies, and educational institutions. Her expertise in strategic and emergency planning, program development, and crisis management has been instrumental in expanding market shares, minimizing risks, and mitigating impacts on security, reputation, and profitability for her colleagues and partners. Known for her adept crisis management skills, she has improved public safety, strengthened security protocols, and protected corporate interests, making her a respected leader in the field.
Schwartz is highly skilled at building and leading high-performance teams capable of executing complex programs and managing emergency responses that effectively minimize disruptions to operations. Her extensive crisis management experience includes dealing with data breaches, natural disasters, public scandals, and financial downturns. She excels in analyzing existing security systems and business models, implementing innovative technology, and establishing organizational protocols that enhance resilience and ensure continuity during business interruptions.
Her professional journey began in the educational sector, where Schwartz managed multiple large-scale projects aimed at promoting academic excellence and leadership skills among middle and high school students. She worked closely with educational leaders to implement development programs that significantly benefited young people in marginalized communities in New York City. In 2007, she took on a crucial role as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles, where she managed grants, developed effective response and recovery plans, and coordinated with multiple government levels during significant emergency activations.
With over two decades of leadership experience, Schwartz consistently emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and fostering a collaborative environment where each team member feels valued. Her leadership has propelled teams toward achieving significant goals while maintaining a positive, team-oriented organizational culture.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, a program that explores the intersection of law with political, economic, and cultural forces. She furthered her education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, and later earned a Master of Science in Strategic Planning for Critical Infrastructure from the University of Washington. This program equipped her with advanced skills in managing and mitigating risks across critical infrastructures, influenced by post-9/11 and Hurricane Katrina insights.
Today, Devra Schwartz serves as the Principal Consultant at Total Resilience Consulting, advising the City of Los Angeles on supply chain resilience and consulting with higher education institutions on security improvements. Her previous roles have included significant positions at Loyola Marymount University and the LA Homeland Security Advisory Council, where she led significant security initiatives and technological advancements. She remains a pivotal figure in safety and security consulting, dedicated to developing innovative solutions that enhance public safety and organizational resilience.
