Erik is currently a PhD candidate studying national security issues at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. As a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Fellow, his primary research interest is crisis management and homeland security.  Prior to the Fletcher School, Erik attended the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  Upon graduation, he was hired by DFI International to consult for the Department of Homeland Security.  Over the next two years, he worked on a variety of projects including the White House report on the Hurricane Katrina disaster before being detailed to support senior members of the FEMA leadership team.  Erik also has five years of experience as a volunteer emergency medical technician.