TDEM established the Academy to train the next generation of the emergency management workforce. The program, a first of its kind in the nation, prepares the student for a career in emergency management with a focus on immediate practical ability. The Academy, which will run approximately eight months, will prepare interested individuals for emergency management careers at TDEM in a variety of preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation capacities.

Farley is considered one of the preeminent incident response lawyers in the country. He has directed the response to more U. S. Chemical Safety Board investigations that any other attorney in the United States. Chambers & Partners describes him as “one of the leaders of the incident response Bar.” Farley’s work with the Academy will involve instruction on the legal issues associated with major incident response.