Kirsten Rushkin

Kirsten Rushkin serves as the Emergency Preparedness Planner for the University of Arizona Office of Public Safety, where they lead campus-wide emergency planning, training, compliance, and continuity efforts across university locations, including Phoenix, Chandler, Scottsdale and Gilbert. 

A retired United States Air Force Command and Control Operations Superintendent, they bring over 20 years of experience in crisis management, resource coordination and operational leadership. During four deployments to the Middle East, they served as Battle Cab Superintendent at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), providing daily situation reports to four-star generals on behalf of United States Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT).

At the university, they oversee the development and implementation of emergency plans, conduct disaster drills and hazard vulnerability assessments, and coordinate closely with local and state agencies including the University of Arizona Police Department, Phoenix police and fire departments, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Their work advances the university’s mission of safety and resilience through strategic planning, collaborative response efforts, and compliance with federal, state, and institutional safety regulations.