Professor Joseph A. Barbera, through the GWU Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, conducts research across a wide range of topics in emergency management, risk management and business continuity. His focus is on decision-making and managing complex tasks in the uncertain, time-and resource-constrained environments of major emergencies and disasters. The underlying basis that connects these disparate areas is engineering management and systems methodology applications that ensure a rigorous scientific approach. Current and recent research focuses upon large-scale incident (disaster) management, hazard risk assessments, public health hazard risk reduction, collapsed-structure search strategies and confined space medical interventions. Healthcare emergency management focused both on mass casualties and continuity of critical operations is another active area of research and development.