Masters of Public Health specializing in Healthcare Administration - National University

Bachelors of Public Health - National Univeristy

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI), Outreach Instructor

FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) Instructor

FEMA Indirect Instructor, Hospital Emergency Response Team (HERT)

CalOES Emergency Operations Center Credential, Logistics Chief / Coordinator (Type III)

CalOES Emergency Management Specialist

FEMA/CalOES Advanced Professional Series

Currently pursuing:

PMI Project Management Professional - Anticipated completion May 2025

Master Exercise Practitioner - Anticipated completion June 2025

Cherish Vaught, currently the Lead Consultant, has more than seven years of experience as an Emergency Management professional in local and state government, as well as non-governmental agencies. She has served in multiple leadership roles during blue and grey skies in those agencies.

She has experience as the Emergency Manager for local government Public Health Department and Humane Society; Public Health Local Project Officer for California Regions 5 and 6; served as a Reunification Mass Care Lead for the Southern California Region and National Division for the American Red Cross; served as the Unit Leader for the Southern California Medical Assistance Team (CAL-MAT; and also serves as a Public Health Advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she served as a Federal Public Health and Medical Liaison Officer during the 2023 Hawai’i Wildfires, Typhoon Mawar Recovery, and Hurricane Milton.

Cherish, has developed and managed multiple preparedness and mass care programs, designed and facilitated various training and exercises, is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indirect instructor, California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) Outreach Instructor, and has presented various workshops and seminars. She has also deployed and/or managed teams on more than 30 disaster responses.

Prior to working in Emergency Management, Cherish provided direct patient care in multiple hospital settings for more than ten years. Cherish specializes in Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 Public Health and Medical and ESF#6 Mass Care.

Southern California Public Health Association (SCPHA)

American Public Health Association (APHA)

California Resiliency Alliance (CRA)

International Association for Emergency Managers (IAEM)

Project Management Institute (PMI)

California Emergency Services Association (CESA)

CalAnimals Emergency Management Committee