S2 - Episode #8: Mark Brady (ret) PIO, Prince Georges County

In this episode, we talk to FEMA trainer and retired PIO Mark Brady. 

• Mark was quoted as saying, “Social Media has been the biggest game-changer for public information professionals…”, what do you mean by that?
• What social media platform do you think is the most important for a PIO to capitalize on?
•  Let’s talk about the social media emergency management guidance tool, I do not think many of our listeners are familiar with it?
• Tell the listeners about your experience as a trainer for FEMA and as an instructor at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmetsburg.
• What type of PIO training are you handling? 
• Where do you see the PIO training field going in the next 10 years?
•  What is the challenge facing PIO’s in getting information out to the media?
• What is one thing you see lacking from PIO’s coming into the field today?
• Why is relationship building so important to the success of a PIO?

Bio of Mark Brady

Mark Brady is well known in the field of Public Safety Public Information and crisis communications.  He has 45 years of public safety experience, most notably with fire and emergency medical services. Brady started his career with the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad in College Park, MD, at 18 years of age and was soon employed by Prince George’s County in Maryland working with the 911 call center and police department before beginning a 40-year career with the fire/EMS department.  The County Office of Emergency Management fell under the fire department and Brady worked closely with emergency managers on special projects and activations.  He was also assigned to Public Safety Communications and Training Academy before being called upon to serve as the Department’s Public Information Officer. He started engaging on social media, primarily, Twitter and Facebook, soon after they became popular in 2008.

 Brady’s work as a PIO began with the advent of flip cell phones and thermal paper fax machines and feels fortunate to have gained experience as a “traditional” PIO.  

 Mark Brady served as the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Fire/EMS Department’s Chief Spokesperson and Public Information Officer for 27 years before leaving in February of 2020 in order to expand his teaching and speaking availability on the subjects of social media, crisis communications, and public safety public information. He has spoken at many events across the country as a “subject matter expert” in the field of PIO and social media and has facilitated presentations at several FIREHOUSE EXPO’s, Fire Department Instructors Conference, and IAFC Officer Development and Command and General Staff courses. 

 Brady has served for 12 years as a contract instructor with FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in all PIO-related classes including All-Hazards Position Specific, Advanced, and Master PIO classes as well as Awareness, Public Information Basic and Joint Information System/ Joint Information Center courses. 

 Brady is currently part of a team revising the FEMA EMI’s Advanced PIO course and is also involved in ongoing curriculum review and development for FEMA’s Public Information Officer and Emergency Management Basic Academy training programs. 

Mark is married with 3 adult children and resides in Annapolis, Maryland

Marks Twitter @PIOMarkBrady
Email PIOMarkBrady@gmail.com