Dillon Matthews
Portland
Summary
Dynamic Training Program Manager with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, skilled in project management and policy writing. Spearheaded training process redesigns, enhancing statewide emergency response preparedness. Proven ability to cultivate relationships and streamline operations, significantly improving training efficiency and instructor credentialing pathways. Highly skilled in leading training and development initiatives, with a strong background in designing and implementing effective training strategies that enhance employee performance and foster organizational growth. Possess robust knowledge of adult learning theories and instructional design models. Demonstrated success in improving training processes and materials, which increased efficiency and productivity within previous roles. Known for leveraging technology for innovative learning solutions and driving continuous improvement in training programs.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Training Program Manager/State Training Officer
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Nashville
10.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded redesigning internal training processes, significantly improving training support across the state.
- Rewrote the State Training Program Guidance to ensure continuous professional development in emergency management.
- Integrated knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) application for comprehensive disaster and emergency response preparedness.
- Partnered with the TEMA Regional Offices to align training processes with county needs, incorporating regional feedback into state-wide training strategies.
- Created the Tennessee Instructor Qualification System (TN-IQS), based on the Position Qualification System (PQS), and developed Instructor Task Books (ITB) for clear credentialing pathways.
- Implemented and chaired the Tennessee Instructor Qualification Review Board (IQRB), ensuring fair evaluation and consistent recommendations for instructor qualifications.
- Conducted needs analysis and presented data metrics, leading to the adoption of Microsoft Projects for enhanced productivity and reporting.
- Submitted annual section budget reports, prioritizing needs for smooth approval during budget cuts.
- Developed and implemented internal processes focused on streamlining day-to-day operations and enhancing customer service.
- Collaborated with the Public Information Team to create engaging hiring videos, resulting in six applications for the Training Specialist II position and a successful hire.
- Served on the Policy and Accreditation Committee, ensuring policies met state and federal requirements.
- Chaired the Course Revision Committee, overseeing the maintenance and revision of all agency courses.
- As a Project Manager, I led the Request for Proposals (RFP) contract process for the TEMA Learning Management System.
- I ensured the process aligned with the agency's needs and training procedures.
- I incorporated stakeholder feedback to meet client requirements and customized the LMS accordingly.
- I coordinated with the Department of General Services and STS to ensure legal and technical compliance with state and federal regulations.
- I developed and executed a comprehensive six-month implementation plan for the LMS, overseeing four testing and design teams to validate data entry in testing environments.
- Collaborating with the vendor's project development team, I promptly met project milestones and deliverables.
- I established and executed LMS user and admin training plans for regional offices to facilitate a smooth transition to the new software.
- I created new reporting forms within the LMS to enhance mandatory reporting capabilities for leadership and federal partners.
- Cultivated extensive statewide relationships across Tennessee's regions and counties to cultivate a collaborative training environment focused on advancing statewide initiatives for Tennessee's training improvement.
- Conducted quarterly training material reviews with the four TEMA regional offices to procure the necessary equipment for training courses.
- Worked with various TEMA Program Managers to create asynchronous courses that allowed the agency to meet our customers where they are for training needs.
- Responsible for creating presentations on all changes to the TEMA Training Program and presenting this information to key stakeholders across the state during various conferences and events.
Internship
Governor’s Veteran Fellow
05.2023 - 10.2023
- One of four (4) fellows selected from Fort Campbell, KY, to participate in the yearlong fellowship designed to transition veterans into State service and chosen to work with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) for phase one (1) of the fellowship.
- Facilitated conversation with twelve (12) different state agency executive leadership teams to discuss four (4) year strategic planning and build relationships for future partnerships.
- Worked with the TEMA Training Section to design and implement the State Comprehensive Training Plan.
- Responsible for streamlining training material request processes and designing processes for agency partners to request training.
- Conducted research to ensure all national and state policy guidance was incorporated into the CTP.
- Responsible for creating the TEMA Instructor Qualification System, which provides current and potential instructors with a career path to obtain instructor credentialing for the various training courses.
- Worked with the TEMA Training Administrator to procure the agency's Learning Management System (LMS).
- Wrote the Request for Procurement and the Pro Forma Contract to obtain the LMS.
- Facilitated conversation with the Department of General Services to navigate the contract process.
- Identified critical needs for the LMS software to ensure a fully asynchronous learning environment.
- Performed the duties of a controller for TEMA during the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Graded Exercise.
- Worked with the Department of Commerce and Insurance in collaboration with the Tennessee Fire Service and Code Enforcement Academy and the Tennessee Fire Commission to create a career pathway for volunteer firefighters statewide.
- Identified resource gaps for all volunteer fire stations and was responsible for developing a budget analysis to enhance capabilities.
- Implemented new and enhanced current educational incentives to strengthen recruitment and retention strategies for volunteer firefighters.
Property and Accountability
United States Army
01.2014 - 10.2023
- $100 million in sensitive items for various day-to-day unit operations.
- Conducted monthly regional inventory inspections by federal regulation, receiving a grade of 100% on all regional assessments over eight years.
Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
United States Army
10.2012 - 10.2023
- Responsible for overseeing eight (8) other mechanics during the daily operation of scheduled and un-scheduled maintenance.
Security Manager
United States Army
01.2019 - 04.2023
- In charge of coordinating risk mitigation meetings with groups of four to eight people across my organization to enhance security practices and training.
- Provided organizational leadership with key findings and suggestions for future training events based on the different levels of risk assessed.
- Provided status reports and implemented mitigation factors for domestic and international operational activities for training and events, including crisis response plans with a detailed framework for the organization.
- One hundred seventy-two events with zero security breakdowns.
- Collaborated with multiple outside organizations to provide training for recovery operations of personnel and equipment during disaster scenarios.
- Networked with external resources to procure training sites and coordinated with organizational trainers to design and execute techniques tailored to specific organizational needs.
- Trained 438 personnel across six organizations on standard recovery practices, resulting in a sizeable decrease in response times.
- Received an Army Commendation Medal for achieving excellence in training and developing soldiers.
- In charge of planning and executing crisis response plans for personnel and facilities with a team of four for various events and operational missions following federal and organizational guidelines.
- Directed security, planning, and operations for the Nashville Grand Prix for our organization.
- Collaborated with local law enforcement and event staff to implement our response plan and security practices for a safe and successful event.
Loss Prevention Manager
United States Army
01.2016 - 12.2018
- In charge of loss prevention for an organization of 332 personnel with a property book containing 2,752 items costing $2.6 million while implementing policies and procedures for facilities managers and elite leadership.
- Led four (4) loss investigations over two (2) years, saving the organization $245,000 in potential loss.
- Received a commendable rating on all regional inspections.
Training Manager
United States Army
02.2014 - 12.2018
- Created weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual training calendars for an organization with 356 personnel.
- Planned and coordinated various training events to maintain personnel readiness on current equipment, resulting in faster response times during training events and real-world missions.
- Oversaw day-to-day operations for multiple programs for 332 personnel while maintaining accurate records in compliance with federal regulation guidelines.
- Revised and implemented policies for program management.
Hazmat Safety Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
- Served as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) Non-Commissioned Officer for the Army’s only Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Headquarters, consisting of 332 Soldiers.
- Responsible for all CBRN detection, decontamination, counter-proliferation, readiness training, and execution for all personnel.
- Trained Special Operations Aviation (SOA) personnel on counterproliferation of nuclear devices and aeronautical HAZMAT transportation.
Weapons and Ammunition Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
- Accountable for adequately storing, maintaining, and inventorying $1,795,342 weapons and ammunition for 332 personnel per state and federal regulations.
- Received a commendable rating on all regional inspections.
Personnel Management
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
- Managed daily operations for an organization of 332 personnel.
- Maintained hard copies and digital records using Microsoft Suite, utilizing Microsoft Excel tracking systems better to improve the unit’s response time and functionality.
- Received an Army Commendation Medal for achieving a commendable rating during a regional inspection of the organization’s records management program.
Education
Emergency Management/Disaster Response
Bethel University
Jackson10-2026
Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Project management
- Policy writing
- Data analysis
- Risk assessment
- Workforce planning
- Process evaluations
- Survey creation
- Supply control
- Management team development
- Learning strategies
- Organizational skills
- Performance management
- SharePoint
- MapleLMS
- Mac
- Microsoft Windows
Websites
Certification
- Equal Opportunity, 2022
- Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, 2021
- Anti-Terrorism Force Protection, 2020
- Advanced Leaders Course, 2019
- Operational Security Level 2, 2019
Volunteer Experience
- Red River clean-up for the last three years
- Needmore Road, Clarksville-trash clean-up for the past two years
- East Robertson JR Pro Football Treasurer & 7U Football Coach
References
References are available upon request.
Fema Certifications
- IS-02000: National Preparedness Goal and System Overview, 2022
- IS-00100.c: Introduction to Incident Command System, 2022
- IS-00120.c: An introduction to Exercises, 2022
- IS-00230.e: Fundamentals of Emergency Management, 2022
- IS-00235.c: Emergency Planning, 2022
- IS-00253.a: Overview of FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Review, 2022
- IS-00271.a: Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk, 2nd Edition, 2022
- IS-00288.a The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management, 2022
- IS-00029.a: Public Information Officer Awareness, 2021
- IS-00075: Military Resources in Emergency Management, 2021
- IS-00200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, 2021
- IS-00393.b: Introduction to Hazard Mitigation, 2021
- IS-00700.b: An Introduction to the Incident Management System, 2021
- IS-00800.d: National Response Framework, An Introduction, 2021
Timeline
Training Program Manager/State Training Officer
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
10.2023 - Current
Internship
Governor’s Veteran Fellow
05.2023 - 10.2023
Security Manager
United States Army
01.2019 - 04.2023
Loss Prevention Manager
United States Army
01.2016 - 12.2018
Training Manager
United States Army
02.2014 - 12.2018
Property and Accountability
United States Army
01.2014 - 10.2023
Hazmat Safety Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
Weapons and Ammunition Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
Personnel Management
United States Army
01.2014 - 12.2018
Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
United States Army
10.2012 - 10.2023
Emergency Management/Disaster Response
Bethel University
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