VCU news

By Mike Porter

Thomas Briggs has been named assistant vice president for safety and risk management at Virginia Commonwealth University. He will begin at VCU on Dec. 7.

Briggs most recently served as director of environmental safety at the University of Central Florida, a position he has held since June 2012. While there, Briggs directed all research-related safety programs and managed university building code and fire safety compliance programs, occupational safety programs, risk management and insurance programs, accident prevention programs, environmental permitting, and hazardous materials programs.

Before that, Briggs served as director of environmental health and safety at City University of New York College of Staten Island, a position he held from 2003 to 2011. He also previously served as director of safety at Madison Square Garden and as safety coordinator for the American Museum of Natural History.

Briggs has also served in a variety of roles for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy Reserve since 2005.

He earned an associate’s degree in environmental science and forestry in 1988 from Herkimer County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in resource management in 2000 from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in national security studies from American Military University, with an expected graduation next spring.