The problem to be explored in the proposed study will be to determine to what extent public and private leaders utilize scientific evidence-based knowledge, ethical considerations, and public policy in their executive decision-making, particularly during emergent situations. There are numerous examples of where it appeared leaders lacked ethical considerations or good judgment in their executive decision-making processes. These examples range from the ethical corporate governance scandals of Enron, Arthur Anderson, WorldCom, and Bernard Madoff Security Investments to examples of misled public governance and good social responsibility, such as the aerial spraying of neurotoxins in densely populated areas to eradicate mosquitos when there were lesser toxic alternatives and breaches of protocol during the Ebola outbreak in Texas. The purpose of this study is to explore how strategic evidence-based facts, ethical considerations, and public policy are criteria utilized in public and private leaders' executive decision-making. A qualitative methodology is the research design of choice, and data will be collected in the form of an open-ended questionnaire provided to public and private leaders in South Florida to determine how ethical considerations, public policy, and evidence-based judgment were utilized in their executive decision-making processes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]