Utility Response Training Associates

09/20/2026

URTA Partners supporting exercises on both coasts this month. Parters Scott Holmquist, Michael Velasquez, Ranger Dorn and Bob Stiens doing a tabletop exercise in Connecticut and Parters Dena Chavez, Phill Veneris, Tony Hernandez and Dana Simpson doing IMT re-qualification exercises in So Cal. More exercises and training to come this month and next.

08/21/2026

A good article about utility resilience from URTA Partners Scott Holmquist and Michael Velasquez, as well as Ashley Harrigan, the Deputy Director of Resilience Policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/critical-infrastructure/critical-infrastructure-community-resilience-and-the-new-standard-for-utility-emergency-preparedness/

08/02/2026

URTA, LLC has reached its 10th Anniversary. We started with 5 Partners and one client. We have grown to 15 Partners operating coast to coast in ten states. Founding Partners:
L to R- Rich Hawkins, Ranger Dorn, Mike Dietrich, Don Will, Steve Heil

07/25/2026

I hope that one day we won't have to evacuate people in a panic mode. Technology is becoming more available to alert and guide responders quicker to allow time to get to a fire when it is small and to safely evacuate people when a fire grows. More to follow on a project that is helping this.

Families visiting France from the UK and elsewhere have told the BBC how their holidays have become evacuation missions.

07/01/2026

This proves we have become better at putting fires out, but we have also built homes in the areas being burned, which has resulted in large losses. We can fix the close-by fuels, thin the forests, and harden homes if we want to.

05/22/2026

04/23/2026

The Partners at URTA are sad to announce that one of our founders, Rich Hawkins, former Fire Chief on the Cleveland National Forest and former Incident Commander of CIIMT 1, has passed away. RIP Rich. Picture- URTA founding Partners- Rich Hawkins is on the left.

04/12/2026

This is a concern.

AI Accelerates Quantum Risk: Encryption Timeline Moves Closer New research indicates that the arrival of quantum computers capable of breaking internet encryption may be closer than expected, with artificial intelligence playing a key role in accelerating progress. Findings from Google and startup O...