Melissa Deas

Melissa Deas has an extensive record in resilience policy, strategic planning, and building consensus, which helps Cadmus clients find creative solutions to complex challenges in the areas of climate, equity, emergency management, and infrastructure. She has worked with federal, state, and local governments to lead projects that engage hard-to-reach populations and maximize community benefits through interdisciplinary approaches.

Prior to joining Cadmus, Melissa served as the District of Columbia’s Chief Resilience Officer, where she proactively implemented policies to ensure the District could thrive in the face of climate change, economic inequality, advancements in technology, and a changing health landscape. At the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, she oversaw programs for hazard mitigation, critical infrastructure, and disability-access-and-functional needs. In this role, Melissa won and managed over $100 million in federal grants to support projects that reduced long-term risks and built safer, more vibrant communities. She also served as the District’s Planning Section Chief in the District’s Emergency Operation Center and as the Recovery Planning Section lead during the District’s COVID-19 response. When Melissa was at the District’s Department of Energy and Environment, she authored the Keep Cool DC plan and continues to be a leading expert on extreme heat mitigation. She has also worked on resilient infrastructure for the California Energy Commission, Georgetown Climate Center, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Melissa received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Harvard University and her master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Melissa’s expertise in climate resilience has been recognized nationally and internationally, and she has contributed to numerous published reports, advisory boards, and presentations. For example, she was a reviewer on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Resilience Guidance, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Integration for Heat Health Centers of Excellence program.

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