Stories

A Navy veteran and former New York City firefighter who spent 45 days on duty at ground zero after 9/11, Dr. Irwin Harrington ’11, PhD in Public Policy and Administration, puts the knowledge he’s gained on the job and during his doctoral studies into action in his current role as a human factors specialist for the U.S. Navy. He believes the events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina presented a clear lesson: People died because they and public safety professionals were unprepared. With that understanding, he found a personal mission: saving lives by educating people about safety and preparation. “Now that I’ve earned my PhD, people listen,” he says.