What Is CAPTRS?
A Nonprofit Redefining Preparedness for Complex Threats
The Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining global preparedness through next-generation simulation games. Our mission is to equip decision-makers and leaders with the intuition, coordination, and systems thinking required to anticipate, understand, and confront complex threats—from emerging pathogens to cascading systems failures and global interdependencies.
1,000+
Decision-Makers Trained
10
Simulation Games
25+
Threat Scenarios
4
Continents
Strategic—Operational—Tactical
A Portfolio of Serious Games
Our portfolio of research-driven games operates across the cognitive, strategic, operational, and tactical levels of decision-making and crisis management. Each game is designed not only to test systems and procedures but to strengthen the human factors—judgment, communication, and collaboration—that underpin effective preparedness and response.
Game Design & Facilitation
CAPTRS designs and facilitates research-based simulations for a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
Diverse Stakeholders
Serving public health and health care professionals, scientists and engineers, elected officials, community leaders, and industry executives.
All-Around Preparedness
Our work supports preparedness across every phase of the decision cycle, from early detection to coordinated response and recovery.
The Need for CAPTRS
Our Case for Support
Traditional preparedness approaches struggle to keep pace with today's threat environment. Exercises are often expensive, time-consuming, infrequent, and disconnected from real decision-making dynamics. Many are not realistic or engaging, and they fail to inspire broad participation, leaving critical gaps untested.
Emergency response budgets have been cut, and large-scale functional exercises remain resource-heavy. It's time for a new way to prepare for crises and respond effectively.
Experts Spanning Disciplines
Advisors and Thought Leaders Across Sectors
Occupying a unique position at the intersection of disciplines that rarely converge, CAPTRS integrates insights from epidemiology, behavioral science, cognitive psychology, systems engineering, and wargaming.
To ensure scientific rigor and cross-sector relevance, we are guided by an Advisory Roundtable composed of distinguished scholars and thought leaders with expertise spanning public health, medicine, behavioral economics, artificial intelligence, complex systems, and strategic communication.
Our Founding Leadership
Motivated by a shared vision to transform the art and science of preparedness, Phil, Molly, and Lauren bring decades of combined experience in science, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership to CAPTRS. Their collective commitment drives our pursuit of evidence-based innovation and real-world impact.
