Jason B. Moats

Jason B. Moats is a Professor of Practice at Texas A&M University and Director of the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness. With a distinguished background spanning academia, U.S. Navy service, fire service, and emergency management, he integrates practical field experience with scholarly research to advance disaster response systems and public safety training methodologies.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Educational Human Resource Development, Texas A&M University (2013)
• MS in Educational Human Resource Development, Texas A&M University (2007)
• BS in Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (1997)

Dr. Moats' research centers on disaster management training and technology acceptance within public safety ecosystems. He pioneers human-centered approaches to immersive technologies (AR/VR), robotics deployment in crises, and equity-focused emergency preparedness. His work critically examines barriers for underrepresented groups in fire services while developing adaptive training frameworks for emergency responders operating in resource-constrained environments.

Analysis of his 2020-2025 publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Immersive technology integration in triage training systems, (2) Robotics applications during pandemics and natural disasters, and (3) Socio-technical factors affecting vulnerable populations' disaster resilience. These intersect with his foundational work on scholar-practitioner development and technology adoption theory.

His accolades include:

• Regents Fellow Award (Texas A&M University System)
• Distinguished Service Award (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service)
• Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• Valor Award (Escambia County Firefighters Association)

As an active scholar-practitioner, Dr. Moats serves on editorial boards for human resource development journals and contributes to national policy discussions through non-profit and governmental boards. His leadership in the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness drives innovation in rural emergency response capabilities through technology adaptation and workforce development initiatives.

The USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness, under his direction, develops specialized training programs addressing unique challenges in rural disaster management, including telehealth integration, cross-jurisdictional coordination, and culturally competent response strategies for underserved communities.