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National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
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  • Douglas M. Aiken
    Douglas AikenIMSA
    62 Communications Drive
    Laconia, NH  03246
    Phone:  (603) 253-9111
    Fax:  (603) 528-5989
    daiken@imsasafety.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Vice Chair representing International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA)

    Job History: Douglas M. Aiken brings 29 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as an administrator in public safety telecommunications, from his service with the Manchester (New Hampshire) Fire Department to his current role as Chief of Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid. In his position as Chief of Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid, a 37-community Fire, EMS, and HazMat agency covering over 1,500 square miles of central New Hampshire, he is responsible for the coordination of 37 fire and EMS agencies, the Central New Hampshire HazMat Team, and the operation of the central communications center. In addition, he serves as the chairman of the New Hampshire Enhanced 9-1-1 Commission. A member of the New Hampshire Air National Guard since 1969, he currently serves as a Colonel with the Joint Forces Headquarters - New Hampshire.

    Telecommunications Background: Chief Aiken began his public safety career as the Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the Manchester Fire Department in 1976. He became Chief of the Communications Division in 1988 and assumed his current position in 1997. He has published numerous articles and is the author of the IMSA Public Safety Dispatcher Certification program.

    Chief Aiken is a former chairman of the board and current chair of the radio committee of the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA), past president of the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), current chair of the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Communications Committee, a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Congressional Fire Service Institute, and a Fellow of the Radio Club of America.

    Chief Aiken served on the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), was a member of the steering committee of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC), and was instrumental in creating NPSTC, the follow-on effort to provide a unified voice for public safety telecommunications needs.

    Education: Chief Aiken holds a Bachelors Degree in Management from New Hampshire College, an associate degree in Electronic Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of the Air University Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.
  • Jason Barbour
    Past President
    NENA
    4350 N. Fairfax Drive, # 750
    Arlington, VA  22203
    Phone:  (703) 812-4600
    jason.barbour@johnstonnc.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

    Job History: Jason Barbour has served as the 9-1-1 Director of Johnston County E9-1-1 Communications from 2000 to the present. He has been a Deputy Sheriff, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, since 1991, and a Captain of the Clayton Fire Department since 2006. Prior to that, he served a firefighter in the Clayton Fire Department from 1991 to 2006.

    Mr. Barbour was a part-time 9-1-1 Telecommunicator, Clayton Police Department & Johnston County 9-1-1, from 1987 to 1991. He has been an instructor, NAED Police Dispatch Protocol, since 2004, and served as an instructor for the North Carolina Wireless 9-1-1 Board, from 2003 to 2005, where he co-authored the NC Wireless 9-1-1 Board’s Wireless 9-1-1 for Telecommunicators Course. Mr. Barbour was also President of Let ‘R’ Rip, Inc., a website development and hosting company 1997-2003

    Telecommunications Background:
    Mr. Barbour has served as President of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), from 2006 to 2008, and was First Vice President of NENA in 2006 and Second Vice President from 2005-2006. He was President of the North Carolina NENA Chapter in 2004-2005 and served as Vice President and Regional Representative prior to that. As NENA’s President, Mr. Barbour testified before the U.S. Senate regarding the future of 9-1-1 in April 2007, and was interviewed by Good Morning America.

    While Mr. Barbour served on North Carolina NENA’s Executive Board, the NC NENA Chapter became the largest in the nation. He is a founding member of the Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force (TERT) and participated in North Carolina’s first TERT deployment. He obtained grants to allow all North Carolina counties to have a NENA member, and participated in the first three “9-11 Goes to Washington” Critical Issues Forums.

    Education:
    Mr. Barbour holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Criminal Justice, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina. He also holds an advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, North Carolina Sheriff’s Education & Training Commission, and is a Fire Fighter Level III, North Carolina Department of Insurance.
  • William Brownlow
    William BrownlowAASHTO
    444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 249
    Washington, DC  20001
    Phone:  (202) 624-5815
    Fax:  (202) 624-5806
    wbrownlow@aashto.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

    Job History: William K. Brownlow is AAHSTO’s Telecommunications Manager and serves as the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) certified public safety frequency coordinator with primary responsibility nationwide for the Highway Maintenance frequencies. Mr. Brownlow serves as Manager, Intelligent Transportation Systems standards development and on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) panel developing the IEEE 1609 standards for vehicle-to-infrastructure integration.

    Mr. Brownlow has collateral duties as the AASHTO staff liaison with the Special Committees on Wireless Communications Technology and Transportation Security. He provides support to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Science Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection Committee (ABE-40) and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program 20-59 Critical Infrastructure Protection Research panel. He is responsible for all filings made on behalf of AASHTO and its members before the FCC and other regulatory bodies regarding both wireless and wireline communications. He serves as a primary member of the Public Safety Communications Council (PSCC), the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), and, on the Board of Directors, of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation (PSST).

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Brownlow is a former consultant to the District of Columbia government, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, where he provided technical and management expertise for the design and installation of the District’s telecommunications infrastructure. Over a 3-year period, Mr. Brownlow developed the District’s standards for telecommunications infrastructure installation and design supporting wireline voice, video, and data communications. Over 45,000 telephone circuits were upgraded to ISDN Centrex and upgraded analog services. Mr. Brownlow was responsible for the evaluation, design, installation, and maintenance of an in-building system to augment the reception and retransmission of voice, video, and data on frequencies between 700 and 3,000 MHz.

    Mr. Brownlow has managed, designed, and installed voice, data, and video systems for a number of systems integrators for over 30 years. Mr. Brownlow has provided domestic and international technical support and training for mini and micro computer manufacturers and has written programs using C, COBOL, Pascal and other high level languages. Mr. Brownlow has been a volunteer fire fighter and emergency medical technician for the city of Anchorage, Alaska, and a reserve police officer in the city of San Diego, California.

    Education: Mr. Brownlow’s background in radio communications began with his experience as an Aeronautical Radio Operator and ARINC radio station manager for Reeve Aleutian Airways on the North Pacific intercontinental route. His formal training in communications and computer systems began with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He has attended numerous specialized training courses and holds the equivalent of Associates Degrees in Electronics and Computer Systems Maintenance.

  • Charley Bryson
    Charley BrysonDirector, RCC Consultants, Inc.
    4900 Cox Road, Suite 235
    Glen Allen, VA  23060-6509
    Phone:  (804) 301-1123
    cbryson@rcc.com

    Name: Charles V. Bryson

    Role in NPSTC: Vice Chair, Outreach Committee

    History: A former police officer at Virginia Commonwealth University, Charles Bryson currently provides project management services as well as technical support for 700 and 800 MHz land mobile public safety communications systems. He also supports clients requiring assistance with projects related to homeland security and communications strategic planning. Mr. Bryson joined RCC in 1998 and has over 40 years of experience in public safety, telecommunications, and higher education.

    As a police officer Mr. Bryson served in every sworn capacity as a member of the department from Patrolman to Captain while earning degrees from the University. As a Police Captain, he was responsible for Police Administration, Communications, and Security Operations. Mr. Bryson founded the Commonwealth’s first campus police training academy and was a state-certified criminal justice training instructor.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Bryson has been deeply involved in RCC efforts regarding the proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission on the public safety spectrum allocation in the 700 MHz band and, in particular, the proposals pending before the Commission concerning the development of a nationwide public safety interoperable broadband network. Mr. Bryson has worked closely with a number of Regional Planning Committees as well as state, county, and municipal public safety agencies to learn their concerns and assist them in the development of filings with the Commission.

    Education: Mr. Bryson holds a Master of Science in Public Safety Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Planning and Management. He has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Administration of Justice and Public Safety providing graduate and undergraduate instruction.

  • Dave Buchanan
    Dave BuchananNetwork Services
    County of San Bernardino
    7445 Palm Avenue
    Highlands, CA  92346
    Phone:  (909) 633-9336
    dbuchanan@deloitte.com

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Chair, Spectrum Management Committee.

    Job History: David Buchanan is a Network Services Supervisor for the County of San Bernardino, California. In his role as Network Services Supervisor, Mr. Buchanan is responsible for management and future upgrades of an 800 MHz integrated trunked/conventional radio system. This system supports over 15000 units, serving 150 different agencies and departments in the 20,000 square mile county.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Buchanan is a life member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO) and is Chairman of APCO's Spectrum Management Committee. He also serves as the Southern California Local Frequency Advisor for APCO. Mr. Buchanan is the Chairperson of the Southern California Region 5, 700 MHz Planning Committee. Mr. Buchanan served as President of the California Public-Safety Radio Association for 2002.
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  • Alan Caldwell
    Alan CaldwellIAFC
    4025 Fair Ridge Drive
    Fairfax, VA  22033
    Phone:  (703) 273-0911 x309
    Fax:  (703) 273-9363
    acaldwell@iafc.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member, representing the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

    Job History: For the past 30 years, Alan Caldwell has been a volunteer firefighter in the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department where he was an operational fire chief for over 20 years. Mr. Caldwell has completed his eighth year as director of the Government Relations Department at the IAFC. The IAFC monitors a wide variety of issues, including hazardous materials, Federal grants for fire departments, life safety protection and education, volunteer issues, terrorism, wildland fires, emergency medical services, wireless radio communications, and numerous others.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Caldwell sits on a number of committees and boards, including the Executive Committee of SAFECOM, the NPSTC Governing Board. He served as the most recent past chairman of the National Advisory Committee to the Congressional Fire Services Institute.

    Education: Mr. Caldwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of World Business at San Francisco State University. He served a 2-year stint in the U.S. Army assigned to an infantry division in Germany. Mr. Caldwell was employed for 34 years by RJR Nabisco. For 21 years, he headed Federal government relations for the food company in Washington, DC. Mr. Caldwell has been married to his wife, Louise, for 43 years; they have two adult children and two grandchildren.
  • George E. Carbonell
    George CarbonellTransportation Radio Supervisor
    ConnDOT
    280 West Street
    Rocky Hill, CT  06067
    Phone:  (860) 568-0492
    Fax:  (860) 258-0399
    george.carbonell@comcast.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO)

    Job History: Mr. Carbonell has 27 years with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) radio communications and 15 years of military communications experience. He is Transportation Radio Supervisor with the state of Connecticut Department of Transportation, which is responsible for maintaining all of ConnDOT base and mobiles radios in state trucks, cars, ferries, and movable bridges. The department is also responsible for the roadway weather system, highway advisory radio system, radio-controlled signs, and public hearing sound and recordings. Mr. Carbonell started with Connecticut DOT in 1978 as Electronic Technician III, and, in1990, was promoted to lead electronic technician. In 1999, he was promoted to Transportation Radio Supervisor for the Department of Transportation.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Carbonell serves on the state advisory group for the AASHTO frequency coordinator and has participated in state and regional communication plans development committees. Mr. Carbonnell was a member of the AASHTO Executive Committee for SCOWT (Special Committee On Wireless Telecommunication) in 1999. He is and has been a member of several Regional Planning Committees (RPCs), including Regions 8 and 19 800 MHz RPC and Region 19 700 MHz RPC, and is webmaster for the Region 19 website. He was a member of Connecticut’s Statewide Interoperability Committee (SIEC) in 2001 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Wireless Telecommunication.

    Mr. Carbonell is a retired Sergeant First Class from the Connecticut Army National Guard (1965-1986) with 15 years in the Brigade-level Communications section where he worked on HF Voice/RTTY, FM two-way radio, wire line and message center operations.
  • Willis Carter
    Willis CarterAPCO International
    4582 Highway 164
    Sibley, LA  71073
    Phone:  (318) 402-9823
    williscarter@bellsouth.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO)

    Job History: Chief Willis Carter has served public safety as a member of the fire service for more than 35 years. He began his career in 1972 as a firefighter with the Shreveport (LA) Fire Department and was promoted to Chief of Communications in 1986. Carter is responsible for the management and operations of the Fire Communications Center, which has a staff of 45 operating the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the Caddo Parish (LA) 9-1-1 system.

    Chief Carter currently serves as President of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, Int.
  • Richard M. Comerford
    Richard ComerfordIAEM
    13110 Lake Mary Jane Rd
    Orlando, FL  32832
    Phone:  (407) 273-8831
    rick.comerford@nc4.us

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representative of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)

    Job History: Richard Comerford has over 25 years experience in Emergency Management. Previously a full-time officer in the Rhode Island National Guard, he has served in various roles, including military support to Civil Authorities Officer and coordinating numerous statewide response to emergencies. Upon retiring, he became an Emergency Manager for Orange County and The City of Orlando, Florida.

    Additionally, Mr. Comerford has also been involved in numerous local, state and national boards and organizations, to include various working groups and programs, including the national Emergency Management Accreditation Program. Upon leaving public service, Mr. Comerford began working for the National Center for Crisis and Continuity Coordination (NC4), as the Director of Exercises and Training. During this time he has worked across the United States and the world, implementing NC4 products and assisting various jurisdictions in the development of successful emergency management programs and response to emergencies and crisis.

    Education: Mr. Comerford holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, Rhode Island College; Master of Arts in International Relations, Salve Regina University.Mr. Comerford is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Business Resiliency Manager (CBRM), Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM), and Emergency Management Specialist (SEM).
  • Jack Doane
    Jack DoaneAssistant Director ISD
    Information Services Division
    64 N. Union, Suite 200A
    Montgomery, AL  36130
    Phone:  (334) 242-3689
    jack.doane@isd.alabama.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD)

    Job History: Mr. Doane joined the Information Services Division (ISD) as their Assistant Director in charge of the State of Alabama Office of Infrastructure. Mr. Doane is an Information Technology professional with over twenty years of technical experience, including over fifteen years of managing technical staff, supporting a variety of hardware platforms, operating systems, network components, and infrastructure initiatives. He has an expertise in evaluating and incorporating emerging technologies in the enterprise, leading teams in the integration of disparate systems, planning large-scale roll-outs, and managing daily IT operations.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Doane is in charge of the network operations that provides statewide industry standard, reliable, and secure network resources for voice, data, and video solutions. The primary services provided are as follows:

    • High speed Internet access with content filtering
    • Customer network resources access
    • State Mainframe access
    • Remote access
    • Virtual Private Network (VPN) service
    • Technical network support
    Mr. Doane is also in charge of the Infrastructure Monitoring and Management Operation Center. The Center monitors environmental, power, servers, voice switches and data equipment for agencies and departments throughout the State to prevent catastrophic failure of needed and expensive services and equipment by immediate notification of service and maintenance personnel. The Center facilitates the resolution of difficult and complex network problems.

    Education: BS in Physical Distribution and a Masters Degree in Information Systems (MIS) from Auburn University

  • Dennis C. Dura
    Dennis DuraManager - Emergency Preparedness and Response
    American Radio Relay League
    225 Main Street
    Newington, CT  06111-1494
    Phone:  (860) 922-1434
    Fax:  (860) 594-0259
    k2dcd@arrl.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

    Job History: Dennis Dura has more than 26 years of experience in the emergency management field. He started as a volunteer coordinator in his home township's emergency management program and turned this experience and training into a consulting career, working on off-site emergency plans for nuclear power plants and the jurisdictions where they are sited around the country. At the same time, he joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer Disaster Consultant in New Jersey, leading to paid positions as Manager of Disaster Services in St. Louis, Director of Disaster Preparedness in Chicago, and a Disaster Preparedness Specialist in New Jersey.

    After some years working in the non-governmental organization side of the field, Mr. Dura joined the New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM). He progressed through the ranks in NJOEM and served in numerous positions such as Operations Officer and Hurricane Preparedness Officer. As a Principal Planner, he was part of the group to develop the first Terrorism Plan for New Jersey prior to 9/11, specializing in human services issues, especially Mass Care. As part of New Jersey's response to the 9/11 attack, he served on a specialized inter-governmental team to establish the Family Assistance Center at Liberty State Park.

    He left NJOEM in 2003 to become the Deputy State Emergency Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), the position he held prior joining the League. Mr. Dura's focus in NJDHS was spread across several areas such as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Mass Care and Business/Continuity of Operations.

    Education: Mr. Dura holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from The College of New Jersey and is currently completing graduate level work in homeland security and emergency management. He is a Certified Business Resilience Manager and is a member of numerous professional emergency management organizations.
  • Richard Finn
    Richard FinnSuperintendent
    York Regional Police
    17250 Yonge Street
    Newmarket, ON  L3Y 4W5,  Canada
    Phone:  (905) 830-0303 x7900
    276@yrp.ca

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Associate Member representing the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG) and the Canadian Association of Chief’s of Police

    Job History: Superintendent Finn is a 35-year veteran of policing and is currently the Officer in Charge of Information Services for York Regional Police. He is also a former member of Toronto Police Service and Strathclyde Regional Police, Scotland.

    Superintendent Finn has extensive operational policing experience including Uniform Patrol, General and Homicide Investigation, Forensic Identification, and Capital Project Management. He is currently in charge of the Communications, Information Technology and Information Management Bureaus.

    Telecommunications Background: Superintendent Finn is a member of both the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). He sits on various organizations including the Canadian Association of Chief’s of Police Informatics Committee where he is the Co-Chair of the Interoperability Sub-Committee, the Common Police Environment Group of the Ontario Association of Chief’s of Police, and the Technology Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section. Superintendent Finn is a strong proponent of radio interoperability and is active in improving radio interoperability in Ontario and across Canada.

    Education: Superintendent Finn is a graduate of the University of theToronto Rotman School of Business and numerous public safety and administration programs including national level leadership courses.
  • Chris Fischer
    Chris FischerPO Box 98993
    Des Moines, WA  98198
    Phone:  (206) 878-0962
    cfischer911@msn.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – nternational (APCO)

    Job History:
    Chris Fischer started her career with Valley Communications Center on August 1, 1977, the first day of operations of the newly formed center. She was one of 11 dispatchers hired for the new center and previously worked as a dispatcher for the Renton Police Department. Ms. Fischer first worked as a dispatch supervisor and was then promoted to deputy director in 1980. In that role, she established and administered hiring, screening, and selection processes; developed the agency training program; supervised the shift supervisors; and had responsibility for overall center operations.

    Ms. Fischer officially retired from Valley Communications Center on August 15, 2007, and now serves as the Executive Director of NORCOM. Chris is also the President of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International.

    Telecommunications Background: Ms. Fischer was appointed Director of Valley Communications Center in 1987. During her 21-year tenure, she facilitated the growth of the agency to a staff size of over 100 employees, a service area of approximately 275 square miles and a population of approximately 605,000. Valley Communications Center now provides service to 25 police and fire departments as well as all 8 Medic One units.

    During this time, Valley Communications Center acquired a fifth partner, the City of Federal Way, and funded and transitioned to a new state-of-the art facility. Under her leadership, Valley Communications Center has achieved national recognition as the first CALEA Accredited Communications Center in the State of Washington, first on the West Coast and the eighth nationwide. Valley Communications Center is recognized as a leader in public safety communications, both nationally and at the local level.

    Ms. Fischer has chaired the Governor's Advisory Committee on E9-1-1 for the State of Washington, Criminal Justice Training Commission's Telecommunicator Standards and Training Program Oversight Committee for the past 7 years and has been active at the national level on many committees regarding public safety communications for the majority of her career.
  • Paul H. Fitzgerald
    Paul Fitzgerald1315 South B Avenue
    Nevada, IA  50201
    Phone:  (515) 382-6566
    pfitzgerald@storycounty.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)

    Job History: Paul H. Fitzgerald was elected Story County, Iowa, Sheriff in November of 1992, taking office on January 1, 1993. Before winning election in 1992, Sheriff Fitzgerald served as a member of the Waterloo Police Department for 15 years serving in a variety of positions, including Patrol Officer, Detective, Field Training Officer, Tactical Team Member, Firearms Instructor, Patrol Supervisor, Public Relations Officer, and Public Information Officer. During his years with the Waterloo PD, Sheriff Fitzgerald also taught for 11 years in the Police Science Program at Hawkeye Institute of Technology, now known as Hawkeye Community College, in Waterloo, Iowa.

    Telecommunications Background: Sheriff Fitzgerald serves on many Boards and Committees, including Board of Directors for the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) on the Executive Committee, NSA Treasurer, committee member of GLOBAL, LEITSC (Law Enforcement Information Technology Standards Council), Board of Director on PSST (Public Safety Spectrum Trust) representing NSA, Iowa Crime Victims Association, Community and Family Resources, Iowa Second District Department of Corrections Board, and others.

    Education: Sheriff Fitzgerald has earned a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelors Degree in Law Enforcement, and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Police Science. Among many other additional training and certifications, Sheriff Fitzgerald is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Academy 198th session. Sheriff Fitzgerald is married to Evonne M. (Sackrison) Fitzgerald and together they have four children.
  • Brian Fontes
    Brian FontesNENA Executive Director
    4350 N. Fairfax, Ste 750
    Fairfax, VA  22203
    Phone:  (800) 332-3911
    Fax:  (703) 812-4675
    bfontes@nena.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate representing the National Emergency Number Association.

    Job History: Brian Fontes currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), a position he has held since June 2008. As CEO, he is responsible for all aspects of the association. His primary objectives are to ensure that Americans have access to reliable 9-1-1 service, 9-1-1 centers have state-of the art technologies and well-trained professionals, and sufficient funding is available so that the 9-1-1 system can best serve those who call upon it as their first voice of hope.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Fontes started his professional career as a Professor of Communications at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to joining NENA, Mr. Fontes was Vice President, Federal Relations for Cingular Wireless, and served in that capacity after its acquisition by AT&T. Prior to that, Mr. Fontes was Senior Vice President for Policy and Administration at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA). Before joining CTIA, he served as the Senior Advisor to Commissioner James H. Quello, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and as the FCC’s Chief of Staff.

    In the Fall of 1995, President Clinton appointed Mr. Fontes as head of the United States Delegation to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Radio Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, and gave him the rank of Ambassador. Mr. Fontes also served as Chairman of the Council of the Communication Regulatory Agency in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mr. Fontes has served on numerous U.S. delegations.

    He is currently on the Board of Directors of the 9-1-1 Institute and the Quello Center for Telecommunication Management, Policy and Law. He also serves on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Department of Commerce).

    Education: Mr. Fontes received a Ph.D. in Mass Media/Telecommunications from Michigan State University’s Department of Telecommunications and a M.S./B.S. from Brigham Young University.
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  • Wayne Gallant
    Director, Network and Communication Services
    Office of Information Technology
    145 State House Station
    Augusta, ME  04333-0145
    Phone:  (207) 624-9424
    Fax:  (207) 287-4563
    wayne.e.gallant@maine.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the National Association of State Technology Directors.

    Job History: Mr. Gallant has over 30 years of experience in information technology including his current position as director of network and communication Services within the Office of Information Technology. This group is responsible for managing all LAN/WAN networks, internet/remote access, voice and telephony services, as well as land mobile radios and microwave backhaul for Maine state government. Prior to this position Mr. Gallant was the director of information technology for the Department of Public Safety/Maine State Police for nearly 10 years where he lead numerous information technology and telecommunications projects.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Gallant’s telecommunications experience includes implementation of a statewide IP based criminal justice network connecting state, county, local and federal partners, deployment of mobile information technology in Maine State Police patrol vehicles utilizing cellular technology, convergence of the state IP data network to support data, video, VoIP, and RoIP traffic and implementation of enterprise class 802.11 wireless LAN service throughout state government facilities.

    He currently is executive sponsor for the $50M Maine State Communications Network project that is developing and commissioning a unified statewide narrowband VHF land mobile radio network for State law enforcement, public safety, and public service agencies. Working with the state CIO Mr. Gallant is a member of the Legislature’s Broadband Strategy Council and the NetworkMaine Council, a consortium of public sector entities with statewide telecommunications requirements.

    Education: Mr. Gallant holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Maine.
  • Rick Galway, ENP
    Rick GalwayNENA
    789 Hawkins Crescent
    Burlington, ON  L7S 2C6,  Canada
    Phone:  (905) 637-0072
    Fax:  (905) 637-1383
    rick.galway@skylinc.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the National Emergency
    Number Association

    Job History: Rick Galway, Second Vice President, NENA, has accumulated a total of
    42 years of involvement in public safety, including 28 years with the fire services of the
    cities of Etobicoke and Toronto. During his last 6 years with the fire service, he was the
    chief of communications. He has a long association with NENA, having served two
    terms in all chapter officer positions for Ontario. Mr. Galway was the second person in
    Canada to be awarded the Emergency Number Professional (ENP) status and served
    for 5 years on the NENA Institute Board. He currently serves as the chair of the bylaws
    and personnel committees of NENA and is a member of the Hall of Fame.

    Mr. Galway has also served on the faculty for continuing education at Mohawk College,
    teaching radio communications in the public safety communicator program. He served
    as chair of the program’s advisory board for 2 years. He is a founding board member for
    two national charities benefiting abused women and disadvantaged children.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Galway served as project manager and
    system administrator for the city of Etobicoke’s 800 MHz. trunked radio system,
    telephone, and CAD systems. Upon retiring from the fire service, he served as general
    manager for a large 900 MHz trunked system in Toronto.

    Rick chaired the Canadian Radio Telephone/Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) Emergency Services Working Group (ESWG) for over two years.
  • Ralph Haller
    Ralph Haller122 Baltimore Street
    Gettysburg, PA  17325
    Phone:  (717) 334-7991
    Fax:  (717) 334-5656
    ed@fcca-usa.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair.

    Overview of experience relevant to NPSTC: Mr. Haller brings 40 years of experience in the communications industry, 25 with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Mr. Haller was chief of the FCC's Private Radio Bureau for several years and was the approving official for the original 55 NPSPAC Regional Plans. He wrote the charter for the more recent Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC) and initiated the meetings. Mr. Haller's areas of expertise include broadcasting, cable television, human radio frequency exposure, and land mobile communications systems. Mr. Haller is an electronics engineer; a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and a Fellow in the Radio Club of America.

    Current Job Title: As Executive Director, FCCA, Mr. Haller is in charge of the day-to-day operations and regularly represents the FCCA at various meetings and forums.

    Job History: Mr. Haller began his work life as an engineer/disc jockey while still in high school and worked his way through college as a broadcaster. After graduation, he worked as a broadcast engineering consultant before joining the FCC in 1971. Mr. Haller held numerous positions with the FCC, including field inspector in Los Angeles, California, chief of the FCC's monitoring network, chief of research at the FCC laboratory, chief engineer of the FCC's Mass Media Bureau, and finally as chief of the Private Radio Bureau. In 1996, Mr. Haller left the FCC to form a land mobile consulting company. He is a regular speaker at industry functions and regularly writes articles for Mission Critical magazine. Mr. Haller is also an authority on the FCC's rules relating to human exposure to radio frequency energy and has written software to evaluate compliance of radio sites.

    Education: Mr. Haller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kansas.
  • Michael Hutton
    Michael HuttonAssociation of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
    122 Baltimore Street
    Gettysburg, PA  17325
    Phone:  (717) 479-3858
    nfc@fcca-usa.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA)

    Telecommunications Background: Michael Hutton is the National Frequency Coordinator for the Forestry Conservation Communication Association (FCCA). Mr. Hutton also serves for FCCA on the Public Safety Communications Council (PSCC), in addition to representing the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) on the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC).

    Mr. Hutton brings nearly 10 years of experience in system analysis to his current role in public safety frequency coordination. He began his training around 1999 at Fox Ridge Communications, Inc., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a land mobile consulting firm.

    Education: Mr. Hutton was educated in physics and mathematics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also accomplished in low-level software design, a skill he applies regularly to solve unusual or complex problems in spectrum analysis.
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  • Aaron D. Kennard
    Aaron KennardExecutive Director
    NSA
    1450 Duke St
    Alexandria, VA  22314-3490
    Phone:  (703) 836-7827
    exec@sheriffs.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the Nation Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)

    Job History: Aaron D. Kennard joined the National Sheriffs’ Association as Executive Director in January of 2007, continuing the NSA mission as the “One Voice for the Office of Sheriff.” Voters first elected him as Sheriff of Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1990 after he had served 20 years with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

    Sheriff Kennard believes strongly in partnerships between law enforcement and the community. He has applied his leadership skills and talents to many important community forums including the Utah Safety Council, the Juvenile Detention Center Advisory Board, and the American Cancer Society. In 2004, he was elected President of the National Sheriffs' Association. He also has held key leadership positions with the Utah Sheriff's Association, Utah State Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, the Salt Lake Area Gang Project, and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Sheriff Kennard was Adjunct Professor at Weber State University and Salt Lake Community College, teaching management/personnel, criminal justice, and criminal Investigations.

    Professional and Civic Participation: Sheriff Kennard has served on many boards and community organizations at the national, state, and local level. He is the Past President, National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) Executive Board, and Chairman of the NSA Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Past President of the Utah Sheriffs' Association; and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), American Correctional Association (ACA), American Jail Association (AJA), Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and Utah Peace Officers Association (UPOA).

    Sheriff Kennard was vice-chairman, Corrections and Detention Committee, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs; and a member of the Criminal Justice Information Services, Western Working Group, U.S. Department of Justice, FBI (CJIS) Division; National Community Oriented Policing Resource Board, DOJ; National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, DOJ; Utah State Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Judicial System; and the Governors Task Force on Gun Violence Legislation

    Sheriff Kennard received the Sheriff of the Year Award from the Utah Sheriff’s Association and the Utah Association of Counties in 1999; the Executive Award of Merit from the State of Utah’s Department of Public Safety in 2001; and the Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety in 2002.

    Education: Sheriff Kennard has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Brigham Young University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology/Sociology from the University of Utah. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, National Executive Institute, and Law Enforcement Executive Development.
  • Gopal Khanna
    Gopal KhannaChief Information Officer
    State of Minnesota
    658 Cedar Street, Floor 4
    St. Paul, MN  55155
    Phone:  (651) 556-8007
    gopal.khanna@state.mn.us

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)

    Job History: Gopal Khanna was appointed Minnesota's first State CIO by Governor Tim Pawlenty on August 15, 2005 and reappointed January 2, 2007. Prior to assuming his position in the Governor's Cabinet, Khanna served in the administration of President George W. Bush from June 2002 through August 2005, where he held several senior executive policy positions and is credited with leading major reforms and transformation in federal government. Prior to his service in government, Khanna was in the private sector, where he held several senior corporate executive positions. He has a broad-based executive background which includes experience in information technology, finance, operations, strategic planning, business development, and consulting.

    Education: Khanna has a B.A. in economics, mathematics, and political science from Christ Church College in Kanpur, India, and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Maine.
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  • Paul M. Leary
    Paul LearyNASF
    709 Central Street
    Franklin, NH  03235-2023
    Phone:  (603) 934-0055
    paul.leary@fcca-usa.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing Forestry Conservation Communication Association (FCCA)

    Job History: Chief Paul Leary has a 26 year background in law enforcement including 10 plus years as a Police Chief in a small town before going to work for the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED).

    For the past 11 years Chief Leary has been DRED’S representative to the New Hampshire State Police Statewide Radio System and responsible for building out DRED’S portion of the system.

    For the past 6 years, he has managed the Department’s 17 Mountain Top Communication Sites, including Mount Washington.

    Telecommunications Background:
    Chief Leary currently serves as the President of the Forestry Conservation Communication Association (FCCA), serves on the Land Mobile Communication Council (LMCC), and serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) and as a Board Member of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST).
  • Mike Locatis
    Mike LocatisGovernor's Office of Information Technology
    Chief Information Officer
    601 E. 18th Avenue, Suite 250
    Denver, CO  80203
    Phone:  (303) 764-7708
    mike.locatis@state.co.us

    Role in NPSTC: National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) representative to the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)

    Job History: Mr. Locatis brings over 5 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as a cabinet-level administrator over public safety telecommunication operations in his role as Denver chief information officer (CIO) from 2004 through 2006, and his current role serving Governor Bill Ritter as the CIO for the State of Colorado. Prior to serving in the public sector Mr. Locatis served in various private sector technology leadership positions, most recently the Senior Director of Technology Strategy for Time Warner Cable.

    Telecommunications Background: Denver’s Electronic Engineering Bureau (EEB) maintains the wireless infrastructure for the City and County of Denver including the mission critical network for police, fire, medical, and sheriff users in the city. The wireless radio system serves over 9,500 users in the city and supports several other non-city users. Denver’s public safety simulcast radio system is a 20 channel EDACS radio system that consists of six sites throughout the city, a control point, and a primary dispatch facility. EEB manages interoperability through a Network First system for the 10 county North Central region and is integrated with Denver’s 9-1-1 PSAP.

    Colorado’s statewide Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS) currently provides wide area radio coverage across more than 80 percent of Colorado with 176 sites on the air, and another 23 planned, providing primary or interoperable communications to over 900 public safety and public services agencies with over 32,200 user radios and dispatch positions. The DTRS wide area coverage and interoperability has been used successfully during numerous Colorado snowstorms and the rescues and response operations for the Holly tornado. State and local officials were able to easily respond and communicate.

    Both EEB and DTRS were both extensively and successfully used during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

    Education: Mr. Locatis holds a B.S. from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from Colorado State University. Mr. Locatis serves as Director for NASCIO.
  • Chief Harlin R. McEwen
    Harlin McEwen422 Winthrop Drive
    Ithaca, NY  14850-1739
    Phone:  (607) 257-1522
    Fax:  (607) 257-8187
    chiefhrm@pubsaf.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

    Job History: Chief McEwen brings 47 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as a career law enforcement officer and administrator. Chief McEwen started his career as a Patrol Officer in 1957 in his home town of Waverly, New York (NY), then served in the Tioga County, NY, Sheriff’s Department. and the Cayuga Heights, NY, Police Department as a Patrol Officer and Investigator through 1967 when he was promoted to Sergeant. In 1972, he was promoted to Chief of Police, a position he held for 13 years. From 1969 through 1974, he served as Coordinator of the Tompkins County Mobile Radio District and supervised the installation of a new county-wide law enforcement radio communications system. From 1985 until 1988, Chief McEwen served as Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and Director of the Bureau for Municipal Police, where he was responsible for overseeing the training and registration of all police officers and peace officers in New York State, as well as for the development and implementation of the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program. From October 1988 through February 1996, he served as Chief of Police for the City of Ithaca, NY, where he was instrumental in implementing modern technology and computerization and advancing training and professionalism of the force.

    In February 1996, Chief McEwen was sworn in by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Louis J. Freeh as a Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI with his office located at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. During his tenure at the FBI, he traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally, meeting with law enforcement groups and speaking at international, national, and regional law enforcement and criminal justice conferences on matters relative to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services. In April 2000, he retired from the FBI and active law enforcement service and was presented the prestigious FBI Medal of Meritorious Achievement by Director Freeh.

    Telecommunications Background: In November 2000, the International Association of Chiefs of Police at their Annual Conference in San Diego honored Chief McEwen by presenting him with the first IACP Lone Star Distinguished Award in recognition of his exemplary service to the IACP for over 22 years as Chairman of the IACP Communications & Technology Committee. He continues to serve as Chairman of the IACP Communications Committee and also serves as Communications Advisor to the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, and as an advisor to the FBI, the National Institute of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and various other local, State, and Federal agencies.

    Chief McEwen participated on the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC) and as a member of the Steering Committee of the FCC Public Safety National Coordinating Committee (NCC). He was a leader in creating the NPSTC, the follow-on effort to provide a unified voice for public safety telecommunications needs.
  • Kevin McGinnis
    Kevin McGinnisProgram Advisor
    National Association of State EMS Officials
    201 Park Washington Court
    Falls Church, VA  22046-4527
    Phone:  (207) 622-7203
    mcginnis@nasemso.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials(NASEMSO)

    Job History: Mr. McGinnis brings 34 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services, including roles as the State of Maine’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and E-9-1-1 director. He is the Program Advisor for the National Association of State EMS Directors with responsibility for telecommunications, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), data communications, and technology issues. He is the NASEMSO liaison to all organizations falling into these categories on a national basis.

    He has served as Regional EMS director in Rochester, New York; hospital ED director, in Cooperstown, New York; state EMS and E-9-1-1 director for the state of Maine; EMS Service Chief in Victor, New York, and Farmington, Maine; and state trauma coordinator in Maine. Mr. McGinnis published a book, Rural/Frontier EMS Agenda for the Future (2004, National Rural Health Association).

    Telecommunications Background:
    In his role as Program Advisor for the National Association of State EMS Directors, Mr. McGinnis advises and supports the Association and its members, specializing in communications technology, data, and rural issues. . He also serves as communications technology advisor for that association, and for the National Association of EMTs, the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Association of EMS Educators, and the National EMS Management Association. He is the current vice-chair of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (the FCC’s single national licensee for a national broadband network), vice-chair of the USDHS SafeCom Executive Committee, and vice-chair of the USDHS data communications Practitioner Steering Group.

    Education: Mr. McGinnis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Systems Development from Brown University, and a Master’s degree in Hospital and Health Services Administration from the Johnson Business School of Cornell University.
  • John McIntosh
    420 W. 31st Ave.
    Kennewick, WA  99337
    Phone:  (360) 485-7661
    game293@charter.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board member representing the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA)

    Job History: Lt. John McIntosh (ret.) of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), is a 36½ -year law enforcement veteran, retiring in 2009. Currently Secretary-Treasurer of FCCA, he began serving on the FCCA's Board of Directors in 1999 and served as FCCA's National President from 2003 to 2005. He served as a member of the Washington SIEC's Staff Advisory Workgroup (SAW), its primary radio advisory committee to the state. He is an associate member of the Washington Sheriff's and Police Chiefs Association (WASPC) and has served on its technical committee regarding radio communications.

    Lt. McIntosh also served on the Project 25 User Needs Subcommittee of the P25 Steering Committee for about 2 years and previously represented the AFWA on the NPSTC Governing Board for several years.

    Telecommunications Background: Lt McIntosh managed radio communications for WDFW for almost 20 years, and is currently working part time to continue those duties.

    Certifications: Lt. McIntosh has been a licensed amateur radio operator for 42 years and is a member of the Radio Club of America.
  • Dick Mirgon
    Dick MirgonPresident
    APCO International
    351 N. Williamson Blvd.
    Daytona Beach, FL  32114
    Phone:  (386) 322-2500
    richard.mirgon@gmail.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO)

    Job History: Richard Mirgon recently retired from his position as Director of Technology Services for Douglas County, Nevada. The Technology Services Department includes public safety communications and 911, information systems, emergency management, and animal control. He held this position since 1991. Mr. Mirgon is a founding member of the Nevada Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the Nevada Chapter of APCO.

    In December 1999, he was appointed by Governor Guinn to the State Emergency Response Commission and served as Co-Chair from March 2001 until March of 2006. Additionally, he served as Co-Chair of the WMD/Homeland Security Steering Committee from 1999 through the fall of 2003.

    Telecommunications Background: Prior to his employment with Douglas County, Richard spent 13 years with Jefferson County Colorado as a Deputy Sheriff and worked as a Special Projects Manager for the Board of County Commissioners. Richard served 4 years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence analyst assigned to the National Security Agency.

    Education: Mr. Mirgon holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science.
  • Lloyd M. Mitchell
    Lloyd MitchellPO Box 5203
    Florence, SC  29502
    Phone:  (843) 992-2368
    lloyd@mitchell-web.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the National Association of State Foresters (NASF)

    Job History: Lloyd M. Mitchell has been involved intimately for the past 30 years in the Public Safety community. Mr. Mitchell started as a Rookie Firefighter and progressed thru the ranks until promoted to Chief at South Darlington Fire Department. He was a member of the department until he accepted a position at Robinson Nuclear Power Plant as Senior Nuclear Specialist- of Electrical/Electronic Systems and the Operator Training Simulator. After 15 years he moved to the South Carolina Fire Academy as Director of Physical Facility until he joined the South Carolina Forestry Commission as Regional Dispatch Manager for Wildfire Control. He now is Communications Coordinator with the SC Forestry Commission and is a member of the SC Forestry Type 2 Incident Management Team; he also serves as 1st Vice President of the Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA).

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Mitchell is a past employee of General Electric Mobile Radio. Mr. Mitchell served in the South Carolina Air National Guard in Combat Communications. He is a member of the ARRL and the Radio Club of America. Mr. Mitchell attended Francis Marion College and holds an Associate of Science Degree in Electronic Engineering.
  • Pam Montanari
    Pam MontanariRadio and Data Systems Manager
    Pinellas County Emergency Communications
    12490 Ulmerton Road
    Largo, FL  33774
    Phone:  (727) 582-2509
    Fax:  (727) 582-2555
    pmontana@co.pinellas.fl.us

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Vice Chair, Interoperability Committee

    Job History: Pam Montanari is the Radio and Data Systems Manager for Pinellas County Government in Largo, Florida. She is responsible for the County’s Intergovernmental Smartzone/P25 700/800 MHz Trunked Radio and Data System with over 10,000 users countywide. The system includes a 10-site multi-zone 53-Channel Smartzone/P25 Simulcast System and a 6-Channel High Performance Data system. As Manager, her responsibilities include all aspects of public safety radio and data communications within Pinellas County and for 24 local municipalities. Ms. Montanari has worked for Pinellas County for over 20 years.

    Telecommunications Background: Ms. Montanari has over 28 years experience communications, and a graduate of the Florida Certified Public Manager Program. She is the current chair for the Interoperable Communications Committee in the Tampa Bay Region, working with the Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force and the Tampa Bay Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). She has been involved in interoperability efforts in the Tampa Bay Region for the past 7 years, coordinating and planning interoperability between all agencies for daily operations and large-scale events.

    In conjunction with her local efforts, Ms. Montanari has worked on several programs at the federal level that include the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) program, Tactical Interoperable Communications (TIC) plans, Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIPs), Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program reviews, Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications (FPIC), and National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) development.

    Ms. Montanari is a member of Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO), the Pinellas County Fire Chief’s Association, and serves on a technology subcommittee for NPSTC and on the MTUG (Motorola Trunked Users Group) executive committee,

    Education: Ms. Montanari has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and two Associate Degrees in Electronics.

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  • Lawrence Nyberg
    Lawrence Nyberg1301 East Algonquin Road, SH-2
    Schaumburg, IL  60196
    Phone:  (847) 576-7827
    larry.nyberg@motorola.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate representing the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

    Job History: Larry Nyberg is the Vice-Chair of the TIA-Private Radio Section (PRS). TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop voluntary industry standards for a wide variety of telecommunications products. TIA's Standards and Technology Department sponsors more than 770 standards formulating groups, including Land Mobile Private Radio. PRS is aligned with the TIA technical standards setting committee for establishing land mobile radio standards. The PRS interacts with external regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other standards groups, including the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), commenting on FCC regulatory actions affecting private mobile radio systems.

    Mr. Nyberg has been employed with Motorola Inc. since February 1, 1974, following a 6-year enlistment with the U.S. Air Force. In the Air Force, he initially maintained airborne navigation and positioning platforms, and followed up with air-to-ground weapons guidance systems. His Motorola experience includes over 4 years of field service, coordinating installation and maintenance services for public safety networks in the Chicago area. From service, Mr. Nyberg moved into sales and sales management, focusing exclusively on state and local government entities. In 1989, Mr. Nyberg moved into product operations, in which he directed numerous projects related to product development, marketing, and research and development. Since 2000 he has been nvolved in Motorola’s standards development activities. He is presently the Director for Business Operations in Standards Management.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Nyberg held the Chairman position of TR-8.8 Broadband Data Communications for 4 years from its inception, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of both the APIC Broadband Task Group and TR-8.8. He is also active on two National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) committees developing standards primarily oriented to Fire and EMS service organizations. Mr. Nyberg previously held the position of Rapporteur in the Project MESA Service and Specifications Group when TIA was an active Operating Partner to Project MESA. Education: Mr. Nyberg holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems Management from Elmhurst College, and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University of Chicago.

  • Stu Overby
    Stu OverbyPhone:  (847) 576-2952
    stu.overby@motorola.com

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Vice Chair, Spectrum Management Committee, Working Group Chair, 700 MHz Advocacy Working Group and In-Building Communications Working Group'

    Job History: Mr. Overby has over 33 years of experience in spectrum management and communications. This includes 21 years in Motorola where he is currently Senior Director, Global Spectrum Strategy, and 12 years previously in the Federal Communications Commission where his career spanned the areas of mobile spectrum allocation, field enforcement, and broadcast licensing.

    He has taken a leadership role in spectrum allocations for public safety and private mobile radio systems, personal communications services, digital television, and unlicensed consumer systems.

    In addition to his participation in NPSTC, Mr. Overby is active in industry associations and is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Communications and Technology Committee and the Homeland Security Committee of Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO).

    Education: Mr. Overby holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Virginia.
  • Paul Patrick
    Paul PatrickDirector
    UT Emergency Medical Services & Preparedness
    1479 South 1960 East
    Spanish Fork, UT  84660
    Phone:  (801) 273-6604
    Fax:  (801) 273-4162
    paulpatrick@utah.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate representing the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials

    Job History: Paul Patrick serves as the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Director, Deputy Division Director, and Preparedness Director for the State of Utah, Department of Health. On February 13, 2006, he was selected as the Emergency Medical Services Director and Public Health and Hospital Preparedness Coordinator for the State Utah. On April 15, 2006, he was selected as the Deputy Director for the Division of Family Health and Preparedness for the Utah Department of Health.

    Mr. Patrick oversees a staff of 55 full-time EMS and preparedness professionals and is responsible for the EMS and Public Health Preparedness system for the State of Utah. Mr. Patrick works regularly with many elected officials, legislators, appointed governmental officials, the general public, certified emergency personnel, hospital administrators, nurses, doctors, and governmental department heads.

    Earlier in his career as a Community Health Coordinator II (Regional Consultant), Mr. Patrick was responsible for overseeing emergency medical services in 24 of Utah’s counties, managing budgets, evaluating resources, determining staffing, created new positions, and other special projects. He provided support for the Air Ambulance services, was the editor of the EMS Impact, a quarterly newsletter, and developed programs, brochures, certificates, equipment checklists, and computer media presentations.

    Professional Background: Mr. Patrick served as a paid, part-time member of the Springville Ambulance Association for 25 years and maintained certification as an EMT certification until 2003. He was an Eagle Scout in 1967 and President, Springville Ambulance Association from 1980-81. He received the Utah Department of Health Major Incentive Award in May and July 1991, October 1992, April 1995, and May 1999, and was named Emergency Medical Technician of the Year by the Springville Ambulance Association for the years 2000/2001. In 2007, Mr. Patrick was honored as Manager of the Year by the Utah Department of Health.

    Education: Mr. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

  • John Powell
    John PowellCommunications Coordinator (Ret)
    PO Box 7172298
    Stateline, NV  89449-7172
    Phone:  (510) 410-2858
    jpowell@berkeley.edu

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Chair, Interoperability Committee

    Job History: Mr. Powell has over 25 years of law enforcement experience at both the municipal and state levels as a police officer and supervisor for two San Francisco area agencies. During his career, Mr. Powell implemented and/or managed several major projects including a statewide trunked radio system and an E-911 computer aided dispatch center for the University of California. He has served on numerous local, state, and national committees, including the California Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System (CLEMARS) Executive Committee; the California Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fire, Police, Emergency and Disaster Services; and the FCC's Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC). He has also served as chair of the Interoperability Subcommittee of the FCC’s 700 MHz Public Safety National Coordination Committee (NCC). He has testified before numerous legislative bodies at all levels of government.

    While concentrating in the area of wireless telecommunications, he has had a wide range of responsibilities in administration, crime prevention, emergency management, explosive ordinance disposal, operations, personnel, project and records management, public information, training, and strategic planning. He has consulting experience with high security access control for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and wide area satellite communication systems for the State of California.

    Telecommunications Background: Since leaving the University of California in 2002, Mr. Powell, a senior consulting engineer, has consulted extensively on issues and projects related to advanced telecommunications technologies, including interoperability and software defined radio, for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

    He currently chairs California’s FCC-chartered Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and the Interoperability Committee and Software Defined Radio Working Group within NPSTC. He is the government representative to the Board of Directors at the Software Defined Radio Forum, a member of the Executive Committee of Project SAFECOM within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Project 25 Steering Committee.

    Professional associations include membership on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Information Management Section, and the IACP Communications and Technology Committee where he serves as an IACP representative to NPSTC. He is a life member and International Past President of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO), a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, and a member of IEEE.

    Education: Mr. Powell holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award from that institution at the end of his law enforcement career. He is one of four recipients of APCO’s Art McDole Award for long-term technical contributions to the art and practice of public safety telecommunications and was named 'Most Influential Person in Public Safety Spectrum Management' by Radio Resource magazine in 1998.

    Mr. Powell has authored numerous articles for communications sector publications on operational and technical issues related to advanced wireless communications, interoperability, and software defined radio.

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  • Eddie L. Reyes
    Eddie Reyes2003 Mill Road
    Alexandria, VA  22314
    Phone:  (703) 838-6360
    eddie.reyes@alexandriava.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

    Job History: Captain Eddie Reyes serves on the Alexandria, Virginia Police Department as a Patrol Sector Commander. Locally, Captain Reyes chaired the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Police Technology Subcommittee. Together with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) this committee focuses on regional technology issues impacting law enforcement and it reports to the regions’ police chiefs. During his tenure, this subcommittee focused on a regional law enforcement data sharing system that is a collaboration of the regions’ municipalities and the NCIS.

    Prior to this assignment, Captain Reyes was assigned to the CommTech Program (formerly the AGILE Program), a program of the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. When interoperability was barely recognized at the national level as a critical public safety concern, AGILE laid a critical foundation for policy development, standards, and technology research that is universally recognized and praised. He also managed and oversaw public safety radio interoperability operations for the City of Alexandria, Virginia and is a key player in the National Capital Region.
    Before being assigned to AGILE / CommTech, Captain Reyes commanded the Emergency Communications Section of the Alexandria Police Department. With over 17 years experience in law enforcement, he achieved expert status in public safety communications and interoperability, E-911 telephone systems and CAD.

    Telecommunications Background: At the state level, Captain Reyes chaired the VA State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC). This committee coordinates interoperability issues statewide through end user collaboration and reports to the Governor through the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness. Focusing on training and standards for public safety communications has been his priority while serving on this committee, including a statewide-standardized radio protocol, also known as common language protocol. He has been instrumental in assisting public safety agencies transition from coded radio protocol to a common language protocol.
    At the national level, he is currently the chair of the Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section of the IACP and a member of the US Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM Advisory Working Group.

    Education: Captain Reyes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University and is presently working on his Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Administration of Justice at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Captain Reyes is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has appointed him to the Virginia Latino Advisory Board and the Commission on Immigration.
  • Gregg Riddle
    Gregg Riddle1st VP
    APCO International
    351 N. Williamson Blvd.
    Daytona Beach, FL  32114
    Phone:  (386) 322-2500
    griddle@riddle2008.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board member representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO)

    Job History: Gregg Riddle recently retired as the Executive Director of West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center in River Forest, Illinois. West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center is a multi agency, multi jurisdictional center serving the Chicago suburban villages of Elmwood Park, Oak Park and River Forest. He was the Executive Director at Westcom for over 8 years.

    While serving as the Executive Director, Mr. Riddle also chaired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association’s Telecommunications Committee and was co-chair of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Telecommunications Communications and Dispatch Committee. He was a member of the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association. Gregg currently serves as the Vice President for the Illinois Public Safety Telecommunications Association and was a Regional Vice President for the AT&T 9-1-1 Users Group.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Riddle began his public safety career as a paid-on-call firefighter in his hometown of Harvey, Illinois. Following graduation from Northern Illinois University, he entered the fire service as a full time firefighter with the Elk Grove Village Fire Department. He became one of the first paramedics for the department in 1972. He progressed up through the ranks and retired after 30 years in the fire service as the Deputy Fire Chief responsible for Administrative Operations.

    Mr. Riddle has been a member of APCO for over 28 years and is a Life and Senior member of the Association. He is a member of APCO’s Executive Committee and is the current First Vice-President. Mr. Riddle is a graduate of APCO’s Registered Public-Safety Leadership certificate program, a member of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and is a certified Emergency Number Professional (ENP) through NENA.

    Education: Northern Illinois University
  • Shawn Rogers
    Shawn RogersEmergency Medical Services Division
    The Oklahoma State Department of Health
    1000 NE 10th
    Oklahoma City, OK  73117
    Phone:  (405) 271-4027
    Fax:  (405) 271-4240
    shawnr@health.ok.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials (NASEMSO)

    Job History: Mr. Rogers is the Oklahoma EMS Director and Secretary of the National Association of State EMS Officials. He has 27 years of EMS experience as EMT, Intermediate, Paramedic. He has served as Ambulance Service Director, State Trauma Systems Coordinator, and State EMS Director.

    Education: Mr. Rogers received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City, and is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic.

  • Tom Sorley
    Tom SorleyDeputy Director Radio Communication Services
    City of Houston - Information Technology Department
    611 Walker Street - Suite 936
    Houston, TX  77002
    Phone:  (832) 393-9611
    Fax:  (832) 395-9483
    Cell:  (713) 447-7978
    tom.sorley@cityofhouston.net

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Chair, Technology Committee

    Job History: Tom Sorley, Deputy Director Radio Communication Services for the City of Houston, Texas, brings over 22 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as an administrator in public safety telecommunications, from his early days of service in the Orlando, Florida, Police Department's 9-1-1 Center to his current role as Deputy Director for radio services in the fourth largest city in the nation.

    Mr. Sorley has served as Communications Manager for both the Orlando Police Department and Orange County, Florida. He has chaired several local and state industry panels and committees. Mr. Sorley has extensive experience in local and state communication issues at all levels.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Sorley has served as Executive Council Representative for the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, International (APCO) and has chaired chapter, regional, and international conferences for the group. Mr. Sorley has also been an active participant in the Software Defined Radio Forum as a representative of NPSTC.

    Education: Mr. Sorley holds a Bachelor's degree in management and a Master’s degree in business, both from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Sorley also holds numerous industry certificates and is an alumnus of the Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development Course.

  • Bob Speidel
    Bob SpeidelManager, Gov't Affairs - Regulatory Policy
    Harris Corp., RFV Communications Div.
    221 Jefferson Ridge Parkway
    Lynchberg, VA  24501
    Phone:  (434) 455-9465
    RSpeidel@Harris.com

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Associate Member representing the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

    Job History: Robert Speidel is the Manager of Regulatory Policy for Harris Corporation, RFV Communications Division, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Prior to his current occupation, Mr. Speidel’s experience was varied. He was an Instructor Pilot (IP) /Flight Examiner (FE) in the United States Air Force; an Aerospace Engineer with Naval Air Systems Command; a Programs Manager for the E-2C Airborne Early Warning Radar and the P-3C Data Systems programs with GE; and a partner in a law firm engaged in the general practice of law.

    Telecommunications Background: Since joining the telecommunications wars in 1996, Mr. Speidel has written articles for many national magazines, and has made presentations to many national, regional, and local audiences on a diverse range of telecommunications related topics.

    He has authored numerous comments, replies, petitions, etc., in a wide array of relevant FCC proceedings.

    Over the years Mr. Speidel has participated in a number of government and industry forums including the Public Safety National Coordination Committee (NCC), the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and the WiMAX Forum. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the TIA Private Radio Section (PRS); Chairman of the TIA TR8.17 RF Hazards engineering subcommittee; Chairman of the WiMAX Forum Evolutionary Technical Working Group (ETWG); and as the TIA representative on the NPSTC Governing Board.

    Education: Mr. Speidel holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University. He is admitted to the practice of law in New York State and in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Speidel holds a commercial pilot license with multi-engine, instrument and DC-9/MD-80 type ratings.

  • Vincent Stile
    Vincent Stilevincent.stile@oft.state.ny.us

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair Emeritus and Past Chair

    Job History: Vincent R. Stile, Director, Suffolk County, (NY) Police Communications, has served in public safety for 40 years. Until 2005, Mr. Stile was the police radio communications director for the Suffolk County Police Department, the 14th largest department in the United States. In that role, Mr. Stile was responsible for budgets, plans, designs, and implementations of new wireless communications systems for the police department. Mr. Stile joined the department in 1965 and served as a police officer for 20 years. He was a dispatcher/call taker, then officer-in-charge of the police-radio technical service section until his promotion to communications director in 1985.

    Telecommunications Background: Mr. Stile is former president of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, International (APCO) and a member since 1969. Mr. Stile has served on the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), the Public Safety Wireless Network (PSWN), and the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC). He was chairman of the Tri-State Regional Planning Update Committee, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Region 8, and has served as corresponding secretary for the region. He has been chair of the New York Metro Advisory Committee (NYMAC) for the past 14 years.

    Mr. Stile became involved with APCO when he began serving as southern New York State’s assistant frequency coordinator for police and local government in 1970. In 1978, he was appointed to the newly formed APCO AFC (Automated Frequency Coordination) Board of Directors. Since then, he has served on many APCO committees. He was a member of the AFC task force that developed the first in-house automated frequency coordination system. Mr. Stile was president of APCO’s Atlantic Chapter from 1995-96. He served on the APCO Regulatory Advisory Committee. He chaired APCO’s Project 26, which provided public safety spectrum relief to New York City’s metropolitan area. He is a member of the Next Generation Development Committee for the new Windows-based system to upgrade the coordinating program to a higher level of automation. Mr. Stile has served as the Atlantic Chapter’s local frequency advisor’s chair (covering eight states) for the past 25 years.

    Education: Mr. Stile’s background in radio communications began with his experience in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He graduated from the RCA Institutes in New York, and acquired a first-class FCC radio license. He is a graduate of the Suffolk Community College in Selden, New York, holding an Associate Degree in Applied Science.
  • Chief Paul Szoc
    Paul Szoc7 River St
    Keene, NH  03431
    Phone:  (603) 352-8768
    szoc@myfairpoint.net

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA)

    Overview of experience relevant to NPSTC: Mr. Szoc brings over 30 years of experience in several fields including public safety communications, fire service, EMS and hazmat. Mr. Szoc is a member of several organizations in the public safety field including Safecom, IMSA, International Association of Fire Chiefs, New England Association of Fire Chiefs, New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, APCO and NENA.

    Current Job Title with brief description of responsibility: Deputy Chief, City of Keene New Hampshire Fire Department. In addition he serves as a Commissioner for New Hampshire E-911 System.

    Brief Job History: Mr. Szoc served over 31 years with the Southwestern NH District Fire Mutual Aid System, a large mutual aid and communications center serving over 78 towns in three states. He started his career as a communications specialist and served as Supervisor and Chief Coordinator. He retired as Chief in August of 2007. Mr. Szoc holds a B.S. in Business Management from Southern New Hampshire University and has taken other courses in public safety communications and management. He is also a certified firefighter and certified communications specialist.
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  • Andy Thiessen
    Lead Electrical Engineer
    NIST/OLES
    325 Broadway
    Boulder, CO  80305
    Phone:  (303) 497-4427
    Fax:  (303) 497-5969
    andrew@its.bldrdoc.gov

    Role in NPSTC: Committee Vice Chair, Technology Committee

    Job History: Andrew Thiessen is the Systems Research and Architecture Development Team Leader for the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce.

    Mr. Thiessen leads a team working in several areas directly related to public safety communications, as sponsored by the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) and DHS’ Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC): He is the chair of the APCO Project 25 Interface Committee Broadband Working Group, which is working towards standardization of the technology deployed in the 4.9GHz band; he is the co-chair of the NPSTC Broadband Standards Working Group, which is working to select a broadband technology for public safety’s use in the 700MHz band; he is the program manager for the Public Safety Statement of Requirements; he is the program manager for the Public Safety Architecture Framework; he is working to develop a holistic security framework for public safety communications; he is developing pilot projects for DHS’ OIC; as well as the technical manager of several OIC contracts in areas such as mobile ad hoc networking and security.

    Mr. Thiessen has also worked as a principal in several small start-ups, as a Senior Systems Engineer for Sun Microsystems, an engineer for MITRE, and an engineer for the National Security Agency.

    Education: Mr. Thiessen holds a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering for Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), a Bachelor’s degree in English, also from WPI, and a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He is currently pursuing the Stanford Certified Project Management certificate. Mr. Thiessen is also the recipient of the Department of Commerce Gold Medal (the highest award given in the Dept.) for his work in public safety communications.
  • Lance Valcour
    Lance ValcourInspector
    CITIG
    1200 Montreal Road, M23A
    Ottawa, ON  K1A0R6,  Canada
    Phone:  (613) 993-2842
    lance.valcour@nrc.ca

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Associate Member representing the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG)

    Job History: Inspector Lance Valcour is a 32-year veteran of the Ottawa Police Service, and is currently seconded to the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) to lead its national interoperability program, spearheaded by the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG).

    Inspector Valcour has extensive Incident Command and Leadership experience having managed numerous major events including Canada Day celebrations, the 2004 Bush Presidential Visit, public order events, tactical incidents, and natural disaster responses in the National Capital Region. He has traveled extensively across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, and Caribbean where he has conducted research into various public safety issues.

    Telecommunications Background: Inspector Valcour is an internationally recognized expert on interoperability and sits on numerous organizations and boards across both Canada and the United States. These include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Informatics Committee, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, and the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group as its Program Manager/Executive Director.

    Education: Inspector Valcour is a graduate of numerous public safety/public administration/ incident command-related programs including national level leadership courses.
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  • Marilyn Ward
    Marilyn Wardmward@npstc.org

    Role in NPSTC:Executive Director, Founding Governing Board Chair

    Job History: Ms. Ward brings 36 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as an administrator in public safety telecommunications, from her position as Manager of Communications at the City of Orlando Police Department (27 years, retired 1999) to her appointment as Orange County Public Safety Communications Manager, to her current position as the Executive Director of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.

    Throughout her career, Ms. Ward has managed 9-1-1 infrastructure and call centers, Radio Systems and services, and non-emergency Government Information. She was the project manager for the 3-1-1 non-emergency project, and was the Chair of the Governor’s Statewide Regional Domestic Security Task Force Interoperability Committee. As Communications Manager, Ms. Ward was able to stay involved with communications issues on every level—local, State and Federal. Ms. Ward served as the Orange County Communications Manager until March 2005. Currently, Ms Ward is the Executive Director of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) which is a federation of fifteen public safety associations, including the International Associations of Police Chiefs and Fire Chiefs. Ms. Ward serves on the DHS SAFECOM Executive Committee, and as founding Chair of NPSTC, has maintained a national role in public safety communications for over fifteen years.

    Background: Ms. Ward served as former president of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO) from 1992-1997, and was the NPSTC Founding Chair from 1997-2005, when she became Executive Director. She is a member and fellow of the Radio Club of America.

    Education: Ms. Ward holds a degree in Business and Management and has received many public safety-related certificates in her career.

  • Charles L. Werner, EFO/CFO
    Charles WernerFire Chief
    Charlottesville Virginia Fire Department
    203 Ridge Street
    Charlottesville, VA  22902
    Phone:  (434) 970-3323
    Fax:  (434) 295-1127
    wernerc@charlottesville.org

    Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

    Job History: Chief Charles Werner is a 30-year veteran of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Fire Department and presently serves as its fire chief. Chief Werner is certified as Chief Fire Officer Designation and National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer.

    Telecommunications Background: Previously Chief Werner served as his departments Communications Chief. Presently Chief Werner serves on the Charlottesville-Albemarle-University of Virginia Emergency Communications Center Management Board. He also serves on the Virginia’s Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and served as Chair on two separate terms. Chief Werner also serves on the International Association of Fire Chief’s Communications Committee, the Digital Project Working Group Chair, and as the Technology Council Chair. Chief Werner also serves as the Department of Homeland Security SAFECOM Executive Committee Chair.

    Awards:
    · Three-Time recipient of the Virginia Governors Award for Fire Service Excellence
    · Virginia Fire Chiefs President’s Award
    · Virginia Piedmont Technology Council Spotlight Award
    · International Association of Fire Chiefs President’s Award
    · Two Life Saving Awards
    · Fire Chief Magazine 2008 Career Fire Chief of the Year

    Chief Werner is a nationally published author with over 70 published articles. He serves on the editorial advisory boards for Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Urgent Communications (formerly Mobile Radio Technology), and Virginia Fire and Rescue Magazine.

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