Kaleen Lawsure is a senior project scientist at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) of Old Dominion University. Throughout her career, she has provided modeling, analysis and visualization solutions for complex and emerging challenges faced by government, industry, and academia. She has worked with federal stakeholders at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Housing and Urban Development, and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
At the state level, Lawsure has conducted research for the Commonwealth Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. She has worked regionally and locally across the Commonwealth, as well as with the Regional Tertiary Care Center of Southeastern Virginia, the Regional Catastrophic Planning Team, and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
These collaborations have addressed topics related to decision support analytics, risk and vulnerability assessments, critical infrastructure protection, community preparedness and resilience, hurricane evacuation and sheltering, hazard mitigation, and all-hazards planning.
Grants Awarded
1. Intrinsic Policy-Aware Provenance Infrastructure for Regulatory Compliance Verification, 2026-2027, OERI, $95,000, PI – Chris Lynch, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
2. AI Hazard Mitigation Planning Platform, 2026-2027, OERI, $56,196, PI – Chris Lynch, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
3. Decision analytic support for Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2025-2026, $180,000, PI – Kaleen Lawsure
4. Decision analytic support for Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2012 – present, funded under multiple contracts > $2.2M: PI/Co-PI/Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure, PI/Co-PI – Barry Ezell, a) Flood Intelligence Unit (FIU) data integration into LAS, 2026 – present. b) Post-mitigation Loss Avoidance Studies (LAS), 2021-present. c) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Mitigated Properties GIS and Data Repository, 2022 – present d) Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) maintenance & mitigation activity tracking, 2023-2025. e) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA), 2016-2024 3 f) Emergency Management Performance Grant, Port Security Grant Program, Non-Profit Security Grant Program (varies by year), 2013-2025 g) State Homeland Security Program, 2012-2025
5. Virginia Department of Education Student Performance Data Validation & Analysis, 2025 – 2025, $24,711, PI- Chris Lynch, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
6. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework (IRPF) for Hazard Mitigation Planning in Coastal Virginia, 2024-2025, $135,000, PI – Wei Yusuf, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
7. Commonwealth of Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and Enhanced Plan Status, 2024- 2025, $435,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
8. Decision support for the Hampton Roads Urban Area Working Group (UAWG) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant allocation, 2019-2025, $136,563, PI – Barry Ezell, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
9. All Hazards Advisory Committee support for updating Hampton Roads Threat Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, 2017-2025, $307,787, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
10. Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, 2022 – 2024, $225,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
11. Decision analytic support for Local Capabilities Assessment for Readiness (LCAR) for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2020-2022, $36,000 x 3 years (estimate) = $108,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
12. Decision analytic support for COVID-19 Recovery for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2020-2022, $10,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Co-PI – Kaleen Lawsure
13. Modeling the Mobility and Coordination of Material Process development for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management pre-screening Public Non-Profit Public Assistance for COVID-19, VMASC, 2020-2022, internal support for VDEM response to COVID-19, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
14. Modeling the Mobility and Coordination of Material, Labor, and Displaced Vulnerable Populations for Housing Recovery, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2020- 2022, $375,000, PI – Rafael Diaz, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
15. Advancing Real-Time Evacuation Model (RtePM), Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 10/15/2020-6/30/2022, $175,000, PI – Mike Robinson, Co-PI, Kaleen Lawsure
16. Survey instrument development for higher education institution capabilities for 3D printing of PPE in response to COVID-19, VMASC, 2020, internal support for COVID-19 response
17. COVID-19 Evacuation and Sheltering Risk Perception Study, Virginia Department of Emergency Management,2020-2021, $180,000, PI – Joshua Behr, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
18. Evacuation modeling support for Hurricane Florence After Action Review, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 9/15/2019-1/30/2020, $35,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
19. Preliminary geospatial exploration of select opportunity zones in Norfolk, VA related to diversity and inclusivity in emergency management, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2019, internal support for VDEM mitigation activities, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
20. GIS and hurricane modeling support for ODU post Hurricane Florence study, Old Dominion University, 2018-2019, internal support for post event analysis, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
21. Database development and consulting for the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute FEMA National Preparedness Directorate Return on Investment Study, MITRE Corporation, 2/1/2018-4/30/2018, $11,250, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen 4 Lawsure
22. Decision support and strategic planning for the Commonwealth of Virginia Critical Infrastructure Working Group, 9/1/2017-12/31/2017. $10,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure. Note: Continued support through 2019.
23. Decision analytic support, modeling methodology development, database development, workshop organization, and GIS support for the Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security Hampton Roads Maritime Area critical assets assessment and dependency tool, 8/16/2017- 1/15/2018. [Funded $35,000 (assessment); $475,000 (dependency tool), PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
24. Performance Metrics Executive Dashboard prototype development for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2017-2018, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
25. Hurricane scenario development, vulnerable population mapping, and analysis for U.S. Housing and Urban Development Housing Stock Recovery, 2015-2017, PI – Joshua Behr, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
26. GIS support and preliminary analysis for mosquito monitoring in York County, VA, 2016-2017, internal support for Dr. Bridget Giles, funding status unknown, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
27. GIS support and analysis for vulnerable populations, “Adaptation Response to Recurrent Flooding,” in Portsmouth, VA, 2015, PI – Joshua Behr, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
28. Modeling and methodology support, and database development for National Institute of Standards and Technology Key Performance Indicators Effectiveness (KPI-E) for Manufacturing, National institute for Standards and Technology, 10/1/2014-9/30/2016, $408,304, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
29. GIS support for qualifying Hampton Roads localities for funding through the National Disaster Resiliency Competition, 2015, internal support for Dr. Joshua Behr, funding status unknown
30. Database update support for troop force database for ARCIC, 1/1/2014-9/30/2014. [Funded $1,110,860, PI – Christopher Lynch, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
31. Social network mapping and workshop support for “FallingWater” J6 cyber security and critical infrastructure protection workshop, 2014, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
32. GIS support, database development, and prototype testing and evaluation for Hurricane Evacuation Encouragement Demonstrator (HEED), 2011-2014. [Funded $50,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
33. Evacuation modeling for “Transportation Analysis for Evacuation of Mobile and Baldwin Counties” in Alabama, 2014, PI – Mike Robinson, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
34. GIS support for asthma case study mapping for “Air Pollution, Vehicle Traffic, and SelfReported Asthma: Assessing the Public Health Risks of Congestion in an Urban Environment,” Perry Foundation, 2014, $124,000, PI – Joshua Behr, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
35. GIS support for shelter resources, shelter of last resort, and vulnerable population mapping, and anthrax/Improvised Explosive Devise scenario development and impact analysis for the Hampton Roads Regional Catastrophic Planning Team, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2012-2013, $538,161, PI – Joshua Behr, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
36. GIS support, software testing, evaluation, and documentation, and stakeholder training for the Real-Time Evacuation Planning Model (RtePM). Scenario development for a National Capital Region “dirty bomb” event, and Baltimore, MD Running Festival terrorism event, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 7/1/2012-2/1/2013, $900,000, PI – Mike Robinson, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
37. Decision analytic support for the Hampton Roads Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), 2009- 2012, 6/1/2011-9/30/2013 – $20,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
38. GIS support for the ODU International Alumni Association in mapping global distribution of international graduated students, Old Dominion University, 2012, internal support for ODU, 5 Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
39. Hampton Roads Emergency Preparedness Exercise Series, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 7/1/2010-8/31/2011, $160,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure a. Workshop and planning support b. GIS and hurricane scenario modeling for Common Operating Picture (COP) and Spatially Integrated Incidence Maps (SIIMS) development
40. “Identifying Factors that Influence Terrorist Decisions and Target Selection,” Battelle National Biodefense,7/15/2010-5/31/2011, $50,000, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
41. Research support for Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel risk assessment for cyber-attack targeting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems, and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device scenarios, Virginia Department of Transportation, 3/15/2010-9/15/2011, $299,127, PI – Barry Ezell, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
42. Modeling support for 3D modeling of VMASC building, VMASC, 2009-2010, internal support for VMASC, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
43. GIS support for insurgency modeling in Afghanistan, VMASC, 2009-2010, internal support for Dr. John Sokolowski, funding status unknown, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
44. Vector borne disease research for climate change impacts on human health, VMASC, 2009, internal support for Dr. John Sokolowski, funding status unknown, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
45. Spatial analysis of hurricane flood hazards and 3D modeling of “Disaster Response Model: Regional Tertiary Care Center of Southeastern Virginia,” VMASC, 2008-2009, internal support for Dr. John Sokolowski, funding status unknown, Contributor – Kaleen Lawsure
46. GIS data management for “Critical Infrastructure Resilience for the Hampton Roads Region,” VMASC,2007-2008, PI – John Sokolowski, Contributor Kaleen Lawsure
Journal Articles
• Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Whytlaw, J. L., Hutton, N., Lasisi, T. O., Giles, B., Lawsure, K., Behr, J., Diaz, R., & McLeod, G. (2023). Evacuation behavior of households facing compound hurricane-pandemic threats. Public Administration Review, 83(5), 1186–1201. (Impact Factor 6.1)
• Ezell, B., & Lawsure, K. (2019). Homeland security and emergency management grant allocation. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 16(4), 74–83. (h-index 20)
• Hester, P., Ezell, B., Collins, A., Horst, J., & Lawsure, K. (2017). A method for key performance indicator assessment and improvement in manufacturing organizations. International Journal of Operations Research, 14(4), 157–167. (Impact Factor 0.43)
• Tran, P., Weireter, L., Sokolowski, W., Lawsure, K., & Sokolowski, J. (2009). HAZUS modeling for hurricane effect on a healthcare campus: Implications for health care planning. The American Surgeon, 75(11), 1059–1064. (Impact Factor 1.06)
