About

About Wesley Eric Highfield

Principal and Manager

Dr. Wesley Highfield is a leading expert in natural hazard resilience, mitigation planning, and disaster recovery. With over 12 years of experience in applied research, policy development, and quantitative analysis, he has played a key role in shaping flood mitigation strategies at the local, state, and federal levels. His extensive work in academia, government consulting, and private sector advisory roles positions him as a trusted authority in climate adaptation, hazard planning, and resilience strategies. Dr. Highfield's passion for data-driven solutions and strategic planning has contributed to policy advancements, risk assessment models, and innovative approaches to disaster resilience.

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Education

Ph.D.

Urban and Regional Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2008

MUP

Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2004 Certificate in Environmental Hazards Management

B.S.

Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2001 Coursework focus on Geographic Information Sciences

Ph.D.

Urban and Regional Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2008

MUP

Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2004 Certificate in Environmental Hazards Management

B.S.

Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2001 Coursework focus on Geographic Information Sciences

Qualifications Summary

  • Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences, Texas A&M University
  • Master of Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
  • Certified Floodplain Manager, Association of State Floodplain Managers
  • Extensive experience in securing and managing multimillion-dollar grants
  • Expertise in GIS, spatial analysis, and predictive modeling
  • Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and foster collaboration between academia, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders
  • Published author with over 40 peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and book chapters

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Project Highlights

  • State of Maine, Governor’s Office for Policy Innovation (2024-2025)

    • Provided data analysis and policy recommendations on historic and future federal funding sources for hazard mitigation
    • Conducted a data gap analysis to determine the quantitative positioning of the state’s data infrastructure to conduct analyses related to flood plain management, hazard mitigation, and resilience planning
    • Performed state-wide spatial and statistical analyses of natural hazard vulnerability and risks.

  • Buyer’s Aware

    Principal Investigator on a project funded by the Texas Division of Emergency Management to develop: 

    • ML based flood-risk products at a fine spatial scale across over 3M land parcels
    • Led the development of www.buyersaware.com, a flood and wildfire risk communications tool covering 41 Texas counties

  • FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) Effectiveness Study

    • Assessed the national impact of FEMA's CRS program.
    • Findings led to evidence-based programmatic changes in flood insurance and mitigation planning.

  • Advancing Resilient Infrastructure Strategies (2023-2024)

    • Principal Investigator for a FEMA-funded study on nature-based solutions for flood mitigation.
    • Focused on integrating green infrastructure into federal policy frameworks.

  • Expert Testimony

    • Provided expert analyses and testimony for flood damage related cases.
    • Conducted qualitative, spatial, and quantitative analyses to support prosecutors and defense clients in cases related to natural hazards and climate change.

  • Publications & Media Coverage

    Dr. Highfield's work has been featured in:

    • Scientific American
    • NOVA (PBS)
    • NPR Marketplace
    • Washington Post
    • Houston Chronicle
    • Delaware Public Media
    • FiveThiryEight
    • Wired Magazine
    • The Independent