Dr. Chris Reynolds joined the staff of American Public University System in February 2003 and has over 35 years of higher education experience in both the traditional and online classroom. As vice president of academic communications and outreach, Dr. Reynolds fosters the development of cross disciplinary collaborations and facilitates networking to link faculty to outreach initiatives, which can benefit from their expertise. He also develops and establishes an outreach strategy that identifies and recommends opportunities for building faculty morale and community. He previously served as the dean for the center for teaching and learning and as the director over the emergency management, homeland security, and explosives/ordinance disposal programs.
Dr. Reynolds also served as a division fire chief and emergency manager for over 33 years with a large metro-county fire-rescue organization. His emergency management experience includes the Oklahoma City bombing, hurricanes Andrew, Elena, Opal, and Katrina; Haitian earthquake, and the Deepwater Horizon gulf oil spill. Dr. Reynolds is a certified emergency manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), and is a Chief Fire Officer designee (CFO) through the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Additionally, he holds the Military Emergency Management Senior Specialist (MEMS) badge. He is also a registered paramedic in the state of Florida.
Dr. Reynolds is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel, serving in the United States Air Force as an emergency preparedness officer with the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM). He is a graduate of the Air Force Officer’s Training Program, Air Command and Staff College, and holds a doctorate in education.