Who we are
The Institute for Crisis Leadership was established to advance leadership readiness in moments when decisions matter most. Drawing on decades of real-world experience across public safety, government, and complex operational environments, the Institute focuses on preparing leaders to navigate uncertainty, manage complexity, and lead decisively under pressure. Our work bridges proven leadership principles with the realities of modern crisis environments, emphasizing systems thinking, cross-boundary coordination, and human-centered decision-making. Guided by experienced practitioners and nationally recognized leaders, the Institute exists to ensure crisis leadership is not left to chance, but intentionally developed before critical moments occur.
Joe Wassel
Joe Wassel is a nationally recognized leader in military and public safety communications and emergency response. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zero Nine Thirty-Seven, LLC (ZNTS), a consulting firm focused on leadership, strategy, and innovation in public safety and emergency response. Concurrently, he is a Principal Consultant for Deep Water Point and Associates. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and, with distinction, for 35 years in the Department of Defense, including as the Executive for the Cyberspace Operations Directorate at the Defense Information Systems Agency. Prior to assuming his former positions, Mr. Wassel served as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Communications, directly reporting to four Secretaries of Defense (Perry, Cohen, Rumsfeld, and Gates) over a 13-year period.
With a career spanning senior leadership roles in public safety, homeland security, and emergency management, Joe brings deep expertise in crisis operations, interagency coordination, and large-scale systems leadership. He has worked extensively with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to strengthen preparedness, response, and resilience across the public safety ecosystem.
Joe is widely respected for his ability to lead complex organizations through high-stakes environments, balancing operational demands, technological innovation, and stakeholder trust. His experience leading during national emergencies, advancing next-generation communications capabilities, and advising organizations makes him a valuable contributor to the Institute for Crisis Leadership’s mission to prepare leaders for critical moments.
Ty Wooten
Ty Wooten is a veteran leader in the 9-1-1 and public safety community with more than 30 years of experience spanning emergency communications, leadership development, and national-level advocacy. Throughout his career, Ty has worked closely with local, state, national, and international organizations to strengthen leadership, operations, and workforce development within the emergency response ecosystem.
Ty is actively engaged with organizations, including the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), and has participated in national and international forums addressing crisis leadership, technology, human factors, and organizational resilience. He is the founder of Positive911, a company dedicated to supporting and recognizing 9-1-1 professionals. He is focused on leadership development and organizational improvement, as well as staffing analysis for public safety and businesses alike.
Through the Institute for Crisis Leadership, Ty brings a practitioner’s perspective to leadership education, translating hard-earned lessons from real-world incidents into practical frameworks that prepare leaders to perform under uncertain, complex, and consequential conditions.