Christopher Riccardi, CHSP, CHEP, is a healthcare emergency management and business continuity professional with over two decades of experience strengthening organizational resilience across healthcare systems. He currently serves as Manager of Emergency Management and Business Continuity for Rady Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he oversees the development, implementation, and sustainment of enterprise-wide emergency preparedness and continuity programs.

A respected regional and national leader in the field, Chris serves as Chair of the Southern California Pediatric Disaster Coalition, advancing best-practice resources for pediatric hospitals. He is also Chair of the Orange County Health Care Coalition Hospital Advisory Committee and Co‑Chair of the School and Hospital Alliance for Response in Emergencies (SHARE), strengthening coordination between healthcare systems, school districts, higher education and public agencies. He was the visionary behind the nationally recognized “15 ’til 50” mass casualty incident response initiative, now considered a national best practice in healthcare preparedness.

Known for his calm, analytical, and collaborative leadership style, Chris is deeply committed to mentoring emerging emergency management professionals and advancing the discipline. His approach reframes preparedness as an organizational imperative—ensuring that when disruption occurs, response and recovery are deliberate, informed, and resilient.