Quick Facts:
More than
Full-time employees
Rated among the top
High-tech companies in Hawai‘i
Over
%
PDC staff recruited through internships
Careers and Culture
Fuel your passion for innovation and public service by working with a leading tech organization that routinely pushes the limits of lifesaving possibility. For 30 years, Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has been a pioneer in the innovation of early warning technologies, exercise scenario design, advanced analytics, and risk reduction science and research. Headquartered in Hawai‘i, PDC is regarded as a global leader in risk reduction and resilience-enhancing tools—a reputation built on the dedication and expertise of our team from across disaster management, technology, academic, and scientific disciplines. The Center’s products and services support the most demanding government customers, international, regional, and nongovernmental organizations worldwide in reducing risk and building safer, more resilient communities. As an applied science and research center managed by the University of Hawai‘i, we are always experimenting with new technologies, including applications for artificial intelligence in hazard alerting, monitoring, and predictive risk analytics. Our products benefit public users, government, humanitarian, and private sector decision makers. To learn about job opportunities with PDC, visit the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i site at www.rcuh.com or through our LinkedIn postings.
Internships
PDC provides mentored internship opportunities to self-motivated students who take pride in their work, have a passion for learning, and a commitment to problem-solving. Our internships allow individuals to apply learned skills and theory to real-world problems.
If you are interested in applying for an internship with PDC, please review the programs below to see if there is a good match. You should also examine the criteria for a direct internship before submitting your resume with the link below.
Programs Available
Akamai Workforce Initiative
Offered to college students in Hawaii. Applications accepted in November. Please check the site for details.
https://akamaihawaii.org/interning/
University of Hawai‘i Student Employment & Cooperative Education (SECE)
Available only to college students within the UH system. PDC posts internship position descriptions to this site.
https://sece.its.hawaii.edu/sece/login
CareerLink – UH Maui College Cooperative (Co-Op) Education program
Available only to UH-MC students. Please check the site for details.
http://maui.hawaii.edu/careerlink/
Ke Alahele Program
Offered through Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) internship program
http://www.medb.org/programs/education-to-workforce/ke-alahele-education-fund/
Direct Internships
Direct internships with PDC are also available on an as-needed basis. Please inquire per the guidelines below.
Internship Criteria
- All internships are based on the island of Maui in Hawaii. PDC does not support internships outside of Maui.
- All internship programs are paid internships. However, we do not offer relocation or housing support.
- Technical internships are for summer undergraduate and graduate students. Communications internships are offered year-round.
- U.S. Citizenship is not required, however:
- Candidates MUST have permission to work in the U.S. for the duration of internship; and
- PDC does NOT sponsor visas for international students.
- Long-term internships (for graduate students) may be as long as 6 months. Candidates must submit a resume as part of the submission. Areas of interest for internship may also be submitted.
- For PDC’s direct internship program, the applicant must submit a resume. Area(s) of interest for internship may also be submitted. Internship is contingent upon need and availability.
Skills We Need
Over the years, interns have made valuable contributions to PDC projects and activities with such skills as:
Computer or GIS skills and literacy
- Computer programming (C++, Java, Jscript, …)
- Scripting (PHP, Python, Shell, …)
- Web/App development (HTML, CSS, JSON, …)
- AI experience and/or interest
- GIS (data processing, visualization, …)
- Imagery and/or Image analysis
- Physical sciences and/or modeling
- Data analysis and/or statistics
Communications or design skills and literacy
- Public relations, communications, content development experience
- Web UX / UI design principles
- Graphic design using latest Adobe products
- Video editing
- Marketing copy development
- Social media content management
Follow Us
Sending aloha to our Central American partners following an incredible exchange at the first regional coordination meeting for the 2025 hurricane season. Held May 7–8 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the event was organized by CEPREDENAC and hosted by Dominican Republic Civil Defense. The meeting brought together regional and international disaster management leaders to strengthen preparedness and response to evolving storm scenarios.
PDC met with the CEPREDENAC Executive Secretary to discuss capabilities for hurricane planning and response and delivered a table-top briefing to El Salvador’s national disaster office — Dirección General de Protección Civil — on the upcoming Risk Reduction and Advanced Analytics project. This new evaluation will analyze the effectiveness of outcomes from the previous national assessment conducted in partnership with PDC (learn more at pdc.org/NDPBA) and identify capability enhancements aligned with current needs.
Conversations with key partners emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration, improving risk understanding, and supporting efforts to build national and regional resilience.
#SaferWorld #EarlyWarningforAll #Hurricane #Disaster #ElSavador #DominicanRepublic #CEPREDENAC #NDPBA #R2A2
CEPREDENAC
CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
Protección Civil de El Salvador
Defensa Civil Dominicana
UNDRR
Ecuador is highly susceptible to a wide range of natural disasters due to its geography and hydrological conditions, as well as its location on the Pacific Rim of Fire. The national risk profile includes threats from earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, floods, tsunami, drought, wildfire, extreme heat, and potentially others identified as part of this assessment.
“It is an honor to be working with Ecuador to tackle the very serious and difficult challenges it, and many others in the region, are facing from extreme disaster impacts. From recent severe weather, flooding, landslides, earthquakes, and man-made disasters, these events have the potential to inflict prolonged suffering, economic setbacks, and destabilization that can have lasting effects. Ecuador is the 34th country we’ve partnered with to help assess and identify the most significant drivers of disaster risk and national disaster management capacities."
www.pdc.org/ecuador-teams-up-with-pacific-disaster-center/
#Ecuador #SaferWorld #EarlyWarningforAll #AdvancedAnalytics #NDPBA #R2A2
Riesgos Ecuador
U.S. Embassy Ecuador
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)
Ecuador teams up with Pacific Disaster Center in its ongoing battle with extreme disasters
www.pdc.org
Ecuador’s Secretariat for Risk Management, Secretaría de Gestión de Riesgos (SNGR) and Pacific Disaster Center begin their disaster risk reduction partnership while the nation toils in a complex e...
PDC is assisting partners and monitoring the situation following the recent magnitude 6.3 earthquake impacting Ecuador. According to the latest Event Brief available through DisasterAWARE, approximately 336,000 people have been exposed to Moderate to Very Strong shaking, including 21 hospitals and 101 schools.
Continue to monitor DisasterAWARE for updates and learn more at pdc.org/DisasterAWARE.
Get alerts on earthquakes and 27 other types of hazards, anywhere and anytime, with our free Disaster Alert app.
>>> Available on Google Play and the iOS App Store (search "Disaster Alert" in the app stores)
Are you a disaster manager or humanitarian assistance practitioner?
>>> Access our multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform—trusted by disaster managers worldwide.
>>> Learn more at www.pdc.org/disasteraware/
#Ecuador #EarlyWarningForAll #SaferWorld #DisasterAlert #DisasterAWARE #earthquake
Riesgos Ecuador
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)
U.S. Embassy Ecuador
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE
The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) participated in the Meteorological and Oceanographic Convergence Conference (MCC), held April 7–15 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu. Co-hosted by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the event united military, partner nations, emergency managers, and academia to strengthen meteorological and oceanographic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
PDC highlighted its decades of experience—across the region and beyond—in hazard early warning, advanced analytics, and AI innovation, underscoring how science, technology, and strategic collaboration drive actionable insights for greater regional preparedness and resilience.
#SaferWorld #EarlyWarningForAll #weather
Download the free Disaster Alert app today to receive early warnings and near real-time information on 28 types of natural and man-made hazards worldwide!
>>> Available on Google Play and the iOS App Store (Search "Disaster Alert" in the app stores)
Are you a disaster manager or humanitarian assistance practitioner?
>>> Access our award-winning, multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform—trusted by disaster managers worldwide!
>>> Learn more at www.pdc.org/disasteraware/
#EarlyWarningforAll #SaferWorld #DisasterAlert #hurricane #volcano #fire #flood #tsunami #earthquake #disaster #hazard #landslide #tornado #winterstorm #storm #wildfire #severestorm
Come visit the PDC team at the free Maui County Emergency Preparedness Expo, tomorrow!
Where: Queen Ka’ahumanu Center in Kahului, Maui
Time: Saturday, April 12, 2025 - 10 AM to 2 PM
Headquartered on Maui, PDC has spent 30 years helping keep Hawai‘i—and communities beyond—alert and informed during disasters. Stop by our booth to learn more and get set up to receive real-time hazard alerts, wherever you are.
The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) shared its subject matter expertise at the 2025 Central America Security Conference (CENTSEC), held in Panama City and attended—both in person and virtually—by representatives from Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
PDC maintains strong relationships with partner nations across the region, built on a longstanding history of collaboration to enhance disaster resilience and provide critical situational awareness during crises. Through its National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) program, PDC works hand-in-hand with countries to strengthen readiness and response capabilities. Learn more at pdc.org/NDPBA.
During the conference, Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B) underscored the value of PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform in supporting the U.S. and partner nations with unified, real-time situational awareness for disaster response—enhancing disaster planning, response, recovery, and mitigation. Trusted globally, DisasterAWARE is the world’s leading multi-hazard early warning, risk intelligence, and decision support platform. Learn more at pdc.org/DisasterAWARE.
#CENTSEC2025 #earlywarningforall #saferworld #disasteraware #panam #belize #costarica #elsalvador #guatemala #honduras #dominicanrepublic #mexico #colombia
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)
Embajada de Estados Unidos en Panamá
Joint Task Force-Bravo
CEPREDENAC
Sending aloha to our partners in Madagascar following a successful engagement this week on the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment! PDC presented initial findings from our collaborative project with national stakeholders. We also conducted hands-on training with Madagascar’s national disaster management agency, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), focusing on PDC's multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform, DisasterAWARE. DisasterAWARE will host all assessment data and results for operational use in daily decision-making. Learn more about DisasterAWARE at pdc.org/disasteraware.
PDC’s national baseline assessment is more than an assessment. It’s a long-term program that helps countries assess risk and disaster management capacity and apply it to: early warning, disaster preparedness, policy and planning, sustainable development, and resilience-building initiatives. Learn more at pdc.org/NDPBA.
#EarlyWarningforAll #NDPBA #BNGRC #Madagascar
BNGRC
U.S. Embassy Madagascar
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
Sharing the latest PDC Event Brief for the March 28th magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar, which shows expanded areas of intense shaking and increased exposure. An estimated 38.7 million people were exposed to moderate to violent shaking across the affected region, with 37.7 million in Myanmar, 1.08 million in Thailand, and 3,460 in China.
PDC Event Briefs are automatically updated as the situation develops, providing actionable information for rapid response and informed decision-making. They help quickly assess impacts and answer key questions: What happened? Where? How severe? What actions should be taken?
Stay safe and stay informed! Get alerts on earthquakes and 27 other types of hazards with the free Disaster Alert app, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store.
>>> Search “Disaster Alert” in the app stores.
Are you a disaster manager or humanitarian assistance practitioner? Access our award-winning, multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform—trusted by disaster managers worldwide!
>>> Learn more at www.pdc.org/disasteraware
#MyanmarEarthquake #disasteraware #SaferWorld #EarlyWarningforAll #Myanmar #Thailand
AHA CENTRE
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
United Nations OCHA
World Food Programme
สภากาชาดไทย Thai Red Cross Society
Myanmar Red Cross Society
Stay safe and stay informed! Get alerts on earthquakes and 27 other types of hazards with the free Disaster Alert app, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store.
>>> Search “Disaster Alert” in the app stores.
Are you a disaster manager or humanitarian assistance practitioner? Access our award-winning, multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform—trusted by disaster managers worldwide!
>>> Learn more at www.pdc.org/disasteraware
#EarlyWarningForAll #SaferWorld #DisasterAlert #hurricane #volcano #fire #flood #tsunami #earthquake #disaster #Hazard #landslide #tornado #winterstorm #storms #wildfire #severestorms
PDC’s refined impact estimates are now available for Myanmar following the recent M7.7 earthquake which has badly affected the country. The Joint Analysis of Disaster Exposre (JADE) estimates, produced in partnership with United Nations OCHA and World Food Programme, offer a detailed breakdown of exposure within the most heavily impacted regions of Myanmar.
PDC will continue to support disaster management and humanitarian assistance partners operating within the affected areas during the ongoing response.
To receive alerts and stay informed on this event and other hazards around the world:
Download our free Disaster Alert app available on Google Play and the iOS App Store (Search "Disaster Alert" in the app stores)
Disaster management and humanitarian assistance practitioners can access PDC’s multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform at:
www.pdc.org/disasteraware/
#MyanmarEarthquake #disasteraware #SaferWorld #EarlyWarningforAll #Myanmar #Thailand
AHA CENTRE
U.S. Indo-Pacific CommandI
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
United Nations OCHA
World Food Programme
สภากาชาดไทย Thai Red Cross Society
Myanmar Red Cross Society
Sharing the latest PDC Event Brief and advanced analytics for the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that impacted Myanmar and nearby countries earlier today.
An estimated 19.9 million people have been exposed to shaking intensities ranging from moderate to violent. 19.6 million of those exposed are in Myanmar, 325 thousand in Thailand, and 14.8 thousand in China. PDC continues to assist partners and support the ongoing response efforts.
Receive alerts and stay informed on this event and other hazards around the world:
>>> Download our free Disaster Alert app available on Google Play and the iOS App Store (Search "Disaster Alert" in the app stores)
Are you a Disaster Manager or Humanitarian Assistance Practitioner?
>>> Access our multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform—trusted by disaster managers worldwide.
>>> Learn more at www.pdc.org/disasteraware/
#MyanmarEarthquake #disasteraware #SaferWorld #EarlyWarningforAll #Myanmar #Thailand
AHA CENTRE
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
United Nations OCHA
World Food Programme
สภากาชาดไทย Thai Red Cross Society
Myanmar Red Cross Society