Deborah E. Gibbons is an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  The majority of her work addresses social influences and networks as they affect diffusion of knowledge and practices, collaboration within and among organizations, and overall effectiveness of systems that provide health and human services.  Her research incorporates psychological and organizational principles as foundations for theory development and discovery of better ways to organize systems of people and collectives.  Dr. Gibbons works extensively with public health researchers and practitioners to identify strengths and weaknesses in health networks, then strategize appropriate interventions.  She also conducts basic research that tests relationships between individuals� characteristics and the networks that emerge from their interactions.  Finally, she works with members of the military community to provide insights that will streamline disaster response and the reconstruction processes that occur during and after governmental or natural crises. 

Dr. Gibbons publishes her theoretical research involving network evolution, function, and overall performance primarily in organizational and psychology journals.  Her curriculum vitae provides citations to refereed publications and several project reports, along with details about teaching and other academic history.  Applications of her research include fostering innovation, finding ways to help local people build stronger communities, and developing guidance for faster, more effective disaster response.  Her concise resume summarizes Dr. Gibbons� background, research program, and applied practice.