Kelsey Blackburn serves as the Southeast/Southeast Central Ohio Regional Healthcare Coordinator with COTS, where she oversees the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant and coordinates regional emergency management activities across 21 counties in the Southeast/Southeast Central Region of Ohio. In this role, she works closely with hospitals, healthcare coalitions, emergency management agencies, public health partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen healthcare system preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.

Ms. Blackburn is a member of the COTS Healthcare Incident Liaison (HIL) command staff and has supported and responded to multiple real‑world incidents, providing coordination, situational awareness, and operational support during emergencies. Her work focuses on advancing regional collaboration, improving incident management structures, and translating lessons learned from real‑world events and exercises into sustainable preparedness solutions.

With more than seventeen years of experience in emergency management, Ms. Blackburn has held a variety of preparedness, coordination, and leadership roles within healthcare coalitions and emergency response organizations. Her professional background includes planning and executing exercises, developing response frameworks, supporting coalition governance, and leading initiatives designed to enhance healthcare resilience during disasters.

Ms. Blackburn earned her education from Ohio University and is a Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP). She also holds multiple FEMA certifications, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and excellence in emergency management.