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After completing her undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Southern Maine, Julie Gall, ’14, says that it became clear that she still didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up. 

“Graduate school offered a path to expand knowledge, strengthen my professional capabilities, and contribute in a more meaningful way to my future career,” she said.

Born in Connecticut and raised in Vermont, Gall decided to pursue her PhD at ��ɫ��Ƶ because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., potential for employment, and the ability to travel a few hours and see mountains, the beach, or rural communities. 

“I knew it could, and has, made a fantastic home,” said Gall. Since then, Gall has used her training at George Mason to build a career preparing the region’s emergency response systems for the unexpected.

George Mason's doctoral program in is now ranked among the Top 10 criminology programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. At the time Gall enrolled, the program was new, but the practical expertise of its faculty sold her on her choice.

“The faculty brought exceptional professional experience—many having served as practitioners before entering academia—which added a valuable layer of real‑world credibility to the program,” said Gall.

She was also drawn to the varied backgrounds of her potential cohort—fellow students with diverse educational backgrounds who had already spent time in the field and brought real‑world experience to their studies.

As she approached the end of her program, Gall found a job in her field through her George Mason connections. While she was completing her comprehensive exams, she attended a meeting with her dissertation chair that included a George Mason alum working as a consultant for (NVERS). 

A collaborative partnership between local governments, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the private sector, NVERS enhances the ability of public safety agencies, the health care delivery system, and partner organizations to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, major emergencies, and disasters. 

Gall was informally interviewed that day and began working part time while she completed her exams and dissertation. Since then, Gall has held several roles at NVERS. Today, she serves as its manager of public safety programs. 

“I support the overall program management of NVERS’ public safety portfolio,” said Gall. “This includes coordination of regional, multi-agency, multidisciplinary projects that promote emergency preparedness.”

Gall attends and supports stakeholder meetings with senior public safety officials from local and state government, driving regional policy and developing consensus on response procedures and tactics.  

“We have the benefit of working with leading-edge subject matter experts that push the boundaries of traditional response paradigms and seek innovative solutions to complex problems,” said Gall. “Our goal is to take a ‘wouldn’t this be a good idea’ suggestion and develop it into a fully realized, regionally agreed‑upon approach.”

This summer, NVERS hosted the event at the . The first event of its kind in the National Capital Region, Game of Drones brought together public safety UAS (uncrewed aircraft system) teams to showcase their operational skill, technical innovation, and interagency collaboration through a series of hands-on drone competitions modeled on real-world public safety scenarios.

“Participants competed in mission-driven challenges that tested pilot proficiency, crew coordination, and decision-making under realistic conditions,” said Gall. “The events included interior and exterior flight operations, precision and obstacle-based courses, and structured Interior Tactical Operations exercises.”

The , which has a long-standing relationship with NVERS and has developed one of the most advanced UAS units in the region, helped coordinate the event. 

“The inaugural Game of Drones event provided an excellent opportunity for the George Mason Poice UAS Unit to share its expertise and knowledge with other local, state, and federal partners,” said Michael Lighthiser, deputy chief of George Mason Police. “Participants gained valuable skills and built upon strong regional UAS strength. Thanks to NVERS, the region has positioned itself on the leading edge of public safety UAS and counter UAS.”

In collaboration with NVERS, the George Mason Police UAS unit offers support and training to other public safety agencies. Lighthiser proposed the creation of a UAS working group in NVERS to further support collaboration across agencies. The NVERS UAS Working Group was established in 2021.

“The group establishes regional guidance, evaluates developing technologies, provides training, and promotes operational best practices,” said Gall.

Returning to campus for this event is just one way that Gall remains connected to her alma mater. She stays updated through the Department of Criminology, Law, and Society alumni listserv, follows her cohort on LinkedIn, and reads The George, the university’s newsletter.

“The relationships I built at George Mason—many of which I still cherish today—make me think so fondly of my time there,” said Gall.