Marcus Coleman

Marcus Coleman leads at the intersection of religious affairs, community capacity building, public-private partnerships and crisis management to help people before, during and after disasters. Marcus experience in the private sector includes serving as co-lead for the behavioral science and communications practice at HWC. Prior to HWC, Marcus was the Special Assistant at the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (DHS Center).

During his time at the DHS Center, Marcus supported more than 15 disaster activations and special mission responses including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, the 2015 influx of unaccompanied children, and post-incident national outreach and messaging after several active shooter incidents. Marcus received a FEMA Administrator’s award for his leadership in building a national outreach and effort to encourage collaboration between faith leaders local first responders to develop emergency operations plans that safeguarded houses of worship. From 2010 – 2013 Marcus was a national Program Manager, National Partnerships and Outreach for FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division (formerly the Citizen Corps office).

Marcus’ experience in emergency management has afforded opportunities to make substantial contributions toward strengthening equity in emergency management. This includes developing, managing and strengthening national partnerships with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; AARP; Institute of the Black World Black Family Summit’s Emergency Management Taskforce and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.

Marcus also co-developed FEMA’s guidance for Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers; and was a contributor to FEMA’s course on Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disasters in partnership with University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture and National Disaster Interfaith Network.

Marcus continues to lead various efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation as a means to advance national security interest. Marcus’ community contributions to emergency management and homeland security continue through his community leadership as an Advisory Board Member of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management and is a proud member of the Truman National Security Project.
Marcus is a proud Alum of Howard University (BBA), American University (MPA), and is an active member of Harvard University National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. Marcus lives in Washington, DC with his wife Amber Coleman where they attend New Bethel Baptist Church led by Rev. Dexter U. Nutall.