Frances Edwards is Deputy Director of the National Transportation Security Center at the Mineta Transportation Institute. She is an emeritus professor of political science and former director of the Master of Public Administration program. Her research focuses on issues related to seismic safety, emergency management, homeland security, continuity of operations for government and businesses and global supply chain security. She holds a doctoral degree in public administration from New York University. She was also a certified emergency services manager with 20+ years of experience as Director of Emergency Services in San Jose and Irvine, CA.