Talbot J. Brooks

Mr Brooks has served as the Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University since 2005.  In this capacity, he acts as the department chair, reporting directly to the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences.  Mr. Brooks teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels, conducts sponsored research and development activities, performs service to the University and profession, and administers all aspects of the Center.  Moreover, Mr. Brooks is responsible for the creation of geospatially-oriented academic and training programs.  In this role, he has created the first master's degree program for geospatial technologies accredited as an applied science (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). Mr. Brooks serves as the Chief Engineer at the Bolivar County (MS) Volunteer Fire Department, where he has volunteered since 2005.  In addition, he has served in a variety of Emergency Services positions in both a volunteer and career capacity since 1986.  He was hired as an Instructor at the National Fire Academy in 2011, serving as an instructor and course developer.  Mr. Brooks has been a career firefighter, volunteer firefighter, medic, and a U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps Captain.  Mr. Brooks has volunteered his services, time, and effort for significant events and crises such as the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Mississippi, the 2011 Mississippi flood, the 2011 Tohuku Tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, among many others.