The need for more qualified liaison officers in a topsy-turvy world.

The need for more qualified liaison officers serving in a variety of emergency response roles from various critical emergency management (EM), law enforcement, and first response organizations is at an all-time high due to the variety of significant national disasters and emergencies our country endures. Moreover, having more qualified and accessible liaison officers would act as a "force multiplier" when serving our communities devastated by a hurricane, wildfire, ice storm, or a man-made tragic event, such as an active shooting situation. To that end, more qualified personnel from all parts of the country, world, and from various EM/response organizations would help expedite the emergency response and management function of a major incident, and most significantly, serve the devastated area more efficiently and effectively to not only limit the number of deaths but to minimize the cost of the overall destruction. Even if one life can be saved from this current research study, and it leads to finding ways to get more personnel the necessary training and qualification, then every second spent on the research was well worth it.