Christopher J. Kramer

Risk Communication Specialist, Center for Integrated Emergency Preparedness
Decision and Information Sciences Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Avenue, Bldg. 900
Argonne, IL 60439

Christopher J. Kramer has worked in the communications field since 1983. At Argonne, he is responsible for assisting multiple government agencies and jurisdictions with plans, training, exercises, and support materials relating to media relations before, during, and after a crisis/emergency.

He served for 10 years as Public Information Officer for the Utah Department of Public Safety, where he regularly responded to thousands of media inquiries annually. He also served as lead Public Information Officer for the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command effectively supporting 20 federal, state, and local agencies in preparation for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Mr. Kramer has been a communication consultant/instructor for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Secret Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Utah League of Credit Unions, U.S. Army, Department of the Interior, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and various states and state agencies. He is an adjunct instructor for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Emergency Training Center, teaching the Advanced Public Information Officer and Integrated Emergency Management courses and has assisted the public information communities of Colorado and Minnesota in preparation for both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Mr. Kramer has developed and delivered new public information and crisis communication curricula to public officials and first responders, including training material for the Community Emergency Response Team program that was adopted by FEMA for use nationally. He was also primary author of public safety public information plans for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and is a past president of the Utah Public Information Officers Association. He is the co-author of the Basic Public Information Officers Course used by the Department of Homeland Security and all 50 states.

Mr. Kramer received a B.S. in Communication with an Internet Communication Certification from the University of Utah. He is currently working on his M.S. in Professional Communication at Marist College.