Andrew Roszak

Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, is recognized as a leading authority on emergency preparedness for young children. After working in early childhood education and emergency preparedness, Roszak founded the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute was established to support early childhood professionals in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters, with a focus on providing the necessary tools, training, and resources to help keep children safe. In this capacity, Roszak also serves as Chief of Preparedness, Health and Environment for the Region II Head Start Association and as an adjunct professor in the School of Community and Environmental Health at Old Dominion University.

Before becoming an attorney, Roszak spent eight years as a firefighter, paramedic, and hazardous materials technician in the Chicago area. He has served as Senior Director for Emergency Preparedness at Child Care Aware of America; Senior Preparedness Director of Environmental Health, Pandemic Preparedness, and Catastrophic Response at the National Association of County and City Health Officials; Senior Preparedness Advisor supporting Super Bowl 46 and the Indianapolis 500; and as a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Roszak also served as Health Policy Fellow for the United States Senate Budget and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees during two congressional sessions.

Roszak holds a BS in Fire Science Management, a Master of Public Administration, and a Juris Doctor degree. He is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Supreme Court, and holds a certificate in early childhood leadership from Harvard. This combination of first-responder experience, legal expertise, and public health policy work provides Roszak with a multidisciplinary perspective on protecting vulnerable populations.

Roszak is an award-winning author of the "Preparing for the Unexpected" book series, which focuses on emergency preparedness for early childhood programs. His book, "Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter," has been recognized in the Career/Occupational and Social Issues categories of the IAN Book of the Year Award. He has also received the Firefighter of the Year award, the Red Cross Everyday Hero Award, and the City of El Paso Texas Pillar of Public Health Award, and has been featured as a Sesame Street Hero. In addition to his writing, Roszak oversees early childhood disaster recovery work in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, demonstrating a commitment to resilience-building and emergency management in early childhood education.