Dirk grew up in Germany, where he earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He's lived in Jersey City since 2003, and works as an independent IT project manager for large corporations. Over the years, he's served on the board of his condo association, managing the preparations for hurricanes Irene and Sandy, and gained valuable insight into the vulnerability of high-rise buildings, especially those located in the waterfront area of the city.  As a result, Dirk has become a disaster preparedness advocate focusing on analyzing risks, improving resilience, and training for effective emergency response. In 2013, he joined JC CERT, Jersey City's Community Emergency Response Team, in order to team up with his neighbors to enhance the emergency preparedness of the larger JC community.