Secretary:

Amy Bednar

amy.bednar@swe.org

Dr. Amy Elizabeth Welch Bednar is a research scientist/mathematician and project manager for Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA). Since joining ARA in 2004, she has worked on numerous projects including disaster management planning, decision support tools, mass evacuation modeling, and firefighter training.

Dr. Bednar headed the development and training team for Firefighter Forcible Entry Online Tutorial for the General Services Administration (GSA). The online training educates firefighters and facility tenants to the potential ingress/egress issues of blast, hurricane, and/or ballistic-resistant windows and offers techniques to breach these window systems. Dr. Bednar is working with Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute through the Department of Homeland Security to offer additional training, testing, and research. She brought in a total of $854,000 funding for this effort. In FY05 she received the Technical Achievement Award and for FY06 she received the Business Development Award.

Dr. Bednar graduated Summa Cum Laude from Spring Hill College in 2000 with a B.S. in Mathematics (emphasis in Applied Mathematics) and English. In December 2003 she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (specialization Topology) from the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Bednar is the Region C Secretary, Environmental Scanning FIG Chair, and COR for the Mississippi River City (MRC) Section. In the past, she has served as the President and Vice-President for MRC and is one of the founding members for MRC. Dr. Bednar is on the Board of Directors for the Vicksburg Theater Guild. She is involved in all aspects of theater, from acting to directing to running lights. Dr. Bednar lives in Vicksburg, MS with her husband Tony.