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

Job History:  Douglas M. Aiken brings 34 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as an administrator in public safety telecommunications.  He began his fire service career as a member of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Fire Department.  He then became Chief of Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid (LRMFA) a 36-community Fire, EMS, and HazMat agency in central New Hampshire where he continues to serve as a deputy chief on a part time basis.  In addition, Chief Aiken serves as the chairman of the New Hampshire Enhanced 9-1-1 Commission.  He retired from the New Hampshire Air National Guard in 2007 at the rank of colonel after a 40-year military career.

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 Chief of LRMFA in 1997 serving until 2011.  He is now the Deputy Executive Director of the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA).  He has published numerous articles and is the author of the original IMSA Public Safety Dispatcher Certification program.

Chief Aiken is a former chairman of the board and current chair of the communications committee of IMSA, current president of the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), past chair of the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Communications Committee, Co-chair – Interoperability Working Group – FCC Emergency Response Interoperability Center Public Safety Advisory Committee, member of the SAFECOM Executive 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.

Chief Aiken is also an amateur radio enthusiast, a ‘ham,’ and a member of the American Radio Relay League.

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.

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.

Mr. Brownlow has collateral duties as the AASHTO staff liaison with the Special Committees on Wireless Communications Technology and Transportation Security and the Special Committee on Transportation Security and Emergency Management. 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. 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.

Role in NPSTC: Vice Chair, Outreach Committee

Role in NPSTC:  Committee Chair, Spectrum Management Committee

Job History:  David Buchanan’s primary focus is state and local government public safety radio communications, including voice, mobile data, microwave, and paging.  He is well versed in all areas of public safety radio with specific experience in state and local government public safety communications and extensive experience in public safety spectrum issues including 700/800 MHz Regional Planning, spectrum planning, and FCC licensing.  Mr. Buchanan chairs the NPSTC Spectrum Committee, leading the efforts to develop positions on spectrum issues impacting public safety.  He works to find a consensus position that the member organizations of NPSTC can support and then leads the work in writing that position up to file as comments to the FCC and other organizations.

For the County of San Bernardino, CA, Mr. Buchanan served as Network Services Supervisor, where he led a team that managed and maintained a large multi-agency trunked and conventional radio system with coverage over the 20,000 square miles of the agency.  This system grew from 5,000 to over 15,000 users and over 150 different agencies and districts.  The system supports law, fire, EMS, and local government communications, and allows complete interoperability between users and disciplines.  The system also has supported numerous disaster incidents since implementation.

Mr. Buchanan designed and served as project manager for implementation of an in-building radiating coax system in two new passenger terminals of a major Southern California airport.  This system provided coverage on both 450 and 800 MHz public safety radio bands.  He was Project Manager for the implementation of a radiating coax cable system throughout a one million square foot major trauma hospital in Southern California.  He also designed the system.  System features included coverage for 800 MHz trunked public safety radios, 450 MHz paging for “code blue” patient events, and 900 MHz alphanumeric paging for hospital operations.  He also designed a 200-access point node, 802.11a data system for a one million square foot major trauma hospital, required to have seamless coverage and to accommodate future growth of the hospital’s data needs.  Mr. Buchanan also specified the security policies for the system to protect the privacy of patient information.

He developed a plan for a frequency exchange (26 offset 800 MHz channels for regular 800 MHz channels) with Nextel and the County of San Bernardino, managed the conversion work, and assisted in the contract negotiations.  He chaired the Southern California Region 5, 700 MHz planning effort to develop a regional plan for use of the 700 MHz public safety spectrum.  The plan developed by the Committee was the first in the nation to be approved by the FCC. 

As Chief Engineer, Mr. Buchanan managed a public safety microwave system with over 50 paths throughout a 20,000 square mile area.  Mr. Buchanan was responsible for all design, implementation and maintenance of the system, which supported public safety radio, telephone and data circuits. 

Mr. Buchanan represented the County of San Bernardino on the Southern California Region 5, 800 MHz Regional Planning Committee.  This Committee developed a FCC-mandated plan for use of the 800-mandated plan for use of the 800 MHz NPSPAC band channels.  Mr. Buchanan wrote a major portion of the plan and led a workgroup that allocated channels to the participating public safety agencies.  Later work included representing the Region before the FCC to suggest a sharing plan with Mexico for the NPSPAC band. The FCC successfully negotiated this plan with the government of Mexico.

Mr. Buchanan was the recipient of the 2012 NPSTC Richard DeMello Award. 

Education:  Mr. Buchanan holds a B.A. Public Administration, California State University, San Bernardino, 1978; an A.S. Electronics, San Bernardino Valley College, 1973; and additional electrical engineering course work, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 1995-1996.

Associations & Professional Memberships:  Mr. Buchanan is a Life Member, Associated Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), and was awarded APCO’s Art McDole award for long time technical contributions to the art and practice of public-safety communications in 2004.  He is Past-President, California Public-Safety Radio Association, Chair, Region 5 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee; APCO Local Frequency Advisor, Southern California; Chair, APCO Spectrum Management Committee, 2000-2005; Member, FCC Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee; Member, FCC National Coordination Committee – Vice Chair of the Interoperability Sub-Committee, 1996, and Chair of the NPSTC Broadband Task Force.

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

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board representative of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL)

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Member representing the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)

Telecommunications Background:  Brian K. Daly manages the strategic standards engineering team focusing on 4G LTE evolved packet systems and the IP multimedia subsystem, cybersecurity, small cells, machine-to-machine systems, the commercial mobile alert system, and regulatory topics including SMS to 9-1-1 and NG9-1-1, CALEA, public safety broadband, and PSTN transition.

Job History:  Mr. Daly is an appointee to the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council and the Emergency Access Advisory Committee, and participates in the FCC’s Communication Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) working groups for Transition to NG-9-1-1 and Next Generation Alerting.  He was also a member of the Commercial Mobile Alert Service Advisory (CMAS) Committee where he led the Communications Technology Group, and was active in the development of industry standards for CMAS.

Mr. Daly is Chair of the North American Fraud Forum and Security Group and Emergency Services Task Force under the GSM Association’s North American Regional Interest Group. 

Education:  Mr. Daly holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University with an emphasis in electromagnetic engineering (antennas and microwaves) and communication systems. 

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

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

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

Job History:  Paul H. Fitzgerald was elected Story County Sheriff in November of 1992, taking office on January 1, 1993.  Prior to being elected Sheriff, he served as a member of the Waterloo, Iowa 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 of service with the Waterloo P.D. he 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 History:  Sheriff Fitzgerald serves on many Boards and Committees including:  NSA Past President, a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) Executive Committee.  He is a member on the FirstNet Board, has served on the Board of Directors for PSST (Public Safety Spectrum Trust), represents NSA with the Department of Homeland Security Councils:  SAFECOM Emergency Response Council, and is NSA Alternate to the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.

Sheriff Fitzgerald is a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association, Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies Association, FBI National Academy Graduates Association, National Association of Counties (NACO), National Association of Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Iowa State Policeman’s Association, Iowa Association of Chiefs and Police Officers Incorporated, Iowa Association of Women Police, American Jail Association, Waterloo Police Protective Association, Story County Human Services Council, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colo, Iowa.

Education:  Sheriff Fitzgerald earned his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, a Bachelors Degree in Law Enforcement, from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Police Science from Hawkeye Institute of Technology, Waterloo, Iowa.  He was the first Iowa Sheriff to hold a Master's Degree.  He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Academy 198th Session.  Sheriff Fitzgerald is married to Evonne M. (Sackrison) Fitzgerald and together they have four children.

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.

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

Job History:  Mr. Goldstein spent 26 years at Motorola Solutions, Inc. in various positions.  Most of those years were spent on policy and appropriation issues that impacted public safety.  As examples, Mr. Goldstein supported funding for the fire service, funding to upgrade communications for the U.S. Capitol Police, the Tactical Communications program for the U.S. Border Patrol, and other funding needs for public safety.  Mr. Goldstein recently joined 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, wild land fires, emergency medical services, wireless radio communications, and numerous others. 

Telecommunications Background:  At his years at Motorola Solutions, Inc., Mr. Goldstein worked with Motorola Solutions, Inc. businesses and worked collaboratively with public safety markets personnel across the industry to ensure that the public safety market obtained products that meet the needs of public safety.  Since leaving Motorola Solutions, Inc., Mr. Goldstein also served as the public safety radio consultant for the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association (DVFA).

Education:  Mr. Goldstein received a Juris Doctor, cum laude from New York Law School and a B.A. from the University of Maryland.  Mr. Goldstein is a member of the Washington, D.C. and New York Bar Associations 

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board member representing the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators

Overview of experience relevant to NPSTC: Mark Grubb serves as the Director of the Delaware Division of Communications and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Delaware’s statewide 700 and 800 MHz public safety radio systems. Under his leadership, Delaware provides interoperable public safety communications systems serving all full-time and volunteer first responders within the state as well as state government critical infrastructure service providers.

In addition, Mr. Grubb serves as the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) for Delaware and is the Chairman of the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWICs). Mr. Grubb also serves as the Chairman for Regional Planning Committee (RPC) 28 for 800 and 700 MHz.

In his work with NPSTC, he serves as the Working Group Chair for Participant Development. The multiple roles that Mr. Grubb supports have imbued him with an understanding and appreciation of public safety telecommunications issues on a metropolitan and rural as well as state, local, and national basis.

Through his efforts, Delaware has been carefully evaluating issues related to the nationwide interoperable 700 MHz broadband network. His pro-active contacts relative to broadband deployment has included all Delaware cellular carriers announcing the use of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, multiple manufacturers of LTE systems, and officials of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST). Public safety broadband is an issue about which Mr. Grubb feels strongly and he believes that LTE and public safety broadband are technologies critical for Delaware’s future in order to maintain the state’s longstanding leadership in providing first responders with cutting edge communications tools that will help them to perform their dangerous missions.

Mr. Grubb has significant experience working in the private sector. He spent over 19 years with MBNA America bank managing several different business areas related to the maintenance and construction of their large real estate portfolio.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair

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

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

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

Telecommunications Background:  Terry LaValley is the Communications Program Manager for the State of Vermont, Department of Public Safety.  Mr. LaValley’s office is responsible for all of the state’s mission critical public safety radio systems and numerous enterprise radio systems, the state’s private digital microwave radio and fiber optic network, and the state’s private telephone network.  These systems are utilized by various state agencies and departments including the Department of Public Safety, Vermont Emergency Management, and the Vermont State Police.  His team includes several groups of technical specialists who are responsible for technical repair and maintenance services.  His office is also accountable for all financial and contractual aspects of these enterprise programs.

In his capacity as program manager, Mr. LaValley has overseen the modernization of both the state's microwave network and the two-way radio systems.  A few of his current projects include the modernization of the legacy PBX telephone systems to a VoIP platform, MPLS implementation, and improving voice interoperability for all of Vermont’s first responders.  Mr. LaValley is a leader in U.S./Canadian border radio frequency issues and is the vice-chair of Vermont’s Communications Interoperability Program (VCOMM).

Job History:  His professional career began in 1979 while serving in the US Air Force where he worked on navigational systems for aircraft, radar systems, and communications networks.  Following his military service, he worked in the private sector for approximately 7 years working on public safety and business communications networks and specialized communications technology projects.  

In 1990, he was hired by the Vermont Department of Public Safety as the Communications Program Engineer to support Vermont’s communication program.  This umbrella program provides a single point of management and support for all of Vermont’s agencies and departments that utilize two-way radio technology.  During his time as the system engineer, he was responsible for their 911 dispatch center design, microwave system engineering, and for the assessment and design of the various two-way radio systems used by the state.  The position was also responsible for the FCC licensing and technical project management for all communications-related projects.  In 1999, he was promoted to Communications Program Manager, the position which he currently holds.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing AASHTO

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

Job History:  Chris Lougee is Vice President of Icom America, Inc., Bellevue, WA.  He joined Icom in 1991 as Amateur Division Manager, was appointed Land Mobile Division Manager in 1995, and Vice President in 2000.  Mr. Lougee started Icom America Systems (IAS) as an enterprise within the Land Mobile Division in 2003.  It has achieved steady growth each year by expanding offerings of systems products, total system design, implementation and field services.  Icom America created a Technical Sales Group to develop and deliver specific “mission critical and interoperable” products and services for federal, state, and local government agencies and Self Maintained Commercial Enterprises.  Mr. Lougee's current responsibilities include this Technical Sales Group, the Federal Sales Group, and the Customer Service department.  He has general product coordination and management responsibility for P25 products, working with the engineering department and liaison with TIA TR8.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Lougee participates as a committee member on the TIA TR-8 Engineering Committee participating in monthly conference calls and attending quarterly meetings as a representative of Icom America, Inc.  Also within TIA, he is the Vice Chair of the TR-8 Private Radio Section (APIC-PRS).  Mr. Lougee is a Voting Member and TIA Alternate for the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), attending annual meetings and conference calls regularly.  He participated in the LMCC Spectrum Management Task Force to study and recommend changes in frequency coordination procedures for new digital formats at 12.5 kHz and 6.25 kHz.

Mr. Lougee is an active member of the Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTTIG).  He has contributed to and then presented the P25 Capabilities Guide at the P25 Foundations session during the College of Technology at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE).  Mr. Lougee is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA).  He attends semi-annual board meetings and bi-weekly conference calls, and participates in policy setting discussions and advocacy.

Mr. Lougee is Vice Chair of the NXDN Forum, a collaborative effort of JVC KENWOOD Corporation and Icom Inc., which is now the basic outline of the NXDN™ standard.  The NXDN Forum is the governing body that manages this new standard.

In addition to the above activities, Mr. Lougee meets with various members of the Public Safety & Homeland Security and Wireless Telecommunication Bureaus of the FCC as an advocate for LMCC, EWA, and LMR industry issues and proposed rule changes.

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Member serving as alternate for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

Job History:  Gary B. McCarraher presently serves as the fire chief of Franklin (MA) Fire Department.  He began his fire service career as a volunteer in southeastern Pennsylvania in the mid 1970s.  In 1980, he was appointed as a career firefighter in Littleton, MA, where he was appointed Fire Chief in 1983.  Since then he has served as a chief officer in three other communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including his current position where he has served since 1999.

Chief McCarraher presently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Masters of Public Administration Program at Anna Maria College of Paxton, MA, as well as a management consultant for the MMA Consulting Group of Brookline, MA.  He is active in the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts representing them on the Fire Protection Fire Prevention Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts State Building Code.  He is also the newly appointed Chairperson of the Communications Committee for the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Education:  Chief McCarraher has earned three associate’s degrees in fire and safety curricula, an undergraduate degree in fire and emergency management, and a graduate degree in public administration.  He is a 1996 graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and has received his second renewal of Chief Fire Officer Designate from the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

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

Job History:  Chief McEwen brings more than 50 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, NY, then served as a Deputy Sheriff in the Tioga County, NY, Sheriff’s Department.  In 1964 he transferred to the Cayuga Heights (NY) Police Department.  In 1967 he was promoted to Sergeant and 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 addition to being a member of the Governing Board of NPSTC, Chief McEwen represents the IACP on the USDOJ Global Justice Information Sharing Advisory Committee (GHAC) and the Global Executive Steering Committee (GESC), and on the DHS SAFECOM Executive Committee.

In 2007 Chief McEwen was elected Chairman of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST), a not-for-profit corporation consisting of representatives of fifteen national public safety organizations which was issued the nationwide 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband License (PSBL) by the Federal Communications Commission and which has now been licensed to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Chief McEwen has long been recognized as a respected spokesperson on behalf of the law enforcement community on matters of public safety communications and law enforcement information sharing.  He continues to be a leader in the discussions related to the development of a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) and the challenges to implement the NPSBN since the enactment of enabling legislation by Congress in February 2012.  On November 7, 2012, he was appointed as Chairman of the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC).  

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

Job History:  Kevin McGinnis, MPS, EMT-P has been an EMS system builder since 1974.  He currently serves as the Chief/CEO of North East Mobile Health Services, the largest paramedic service in Maine.  He started working on ambulances in Rhode Island and has held EMT, Paramedic, and instructor licenses in New York and Maine.  He has been an ambulance service chief for volunteer, private, and hospital-based services, a hospital emergency department director, and Maine's state EMS director.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. McGinnis has been widely published and is a national speaker on the areas of public safety/EMS communications, rural EMS, and air-medical systems while serving as a program manager for the National Association of State EMS Officials for the past 13 years.  He serves that association and four other national EMS associations (representing doctors, EMTs, service chiefs, and educators) as communications technology advisor. 

Mr. McGinnis serves to represent the national EMS community in national public safety communications venues including FCC councils and committees, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, and the Public Safety Alliance.  He is the immediate past Chairman of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SAFECOM Program.  He served as Vice Chair of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust.

In August, 2012, Kevin was named by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to a 3-year term on the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board of Directors.  He was named by the Government Technology/Solutions for State and Local Government magazine as one of its 2013 'Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers in Public-Sector Innovation'.

Education:  Mr. McGinnis received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brown University and Cornell University in health care delivery systems and hospital administration.

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

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Member representing the Forestry Conservation Communications Association

Role in NPSTC:  Committee Vice Chair, Interoperability Committee

Job History:  Ms. Montanari is the Manager for Pinellas County, Florida, Public Safety Services, Radio and Data Communications.  She is responsible for all aspects of the county’s public safety communications for the countywide P25 700/800 MHz trunking and data network that provides interoperable communication for over 81 agencies throughout Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay Region.  Her responsibilities include strategic planning, design and implementation, program management, budgeting, and operations for the networks.  In her 23 years of employment with Pinellas County she has managed several upgrades to the countywide networks through close coordination with manufacturers, public officials and public safety personnel.

Ms. Montanari chairs regional interoperable communications efforts for the Tampa Bay Region, as part of the Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force (RDSTF) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).  As Chair of the Interoperable Communications Committee she prepares short- and long-term plans for the regional interoperability strategy aligning with statewide interoperability plans and initiatives.  She coordinates and prepares information for daily and special operations, manages grant coordination and oversight, and represents the region on the Statewide Interoperability Committee.  She is one of the co-chairs for Interagency Communications as part the Republican National Convention, and is working with multiple LTE industry partners to deliver a cutting edge architecture and application platform (instant messaging, secure voice, real-time video sensors) that will improve communication, collaboration, operations, and interoperability.

In additional to her local and regional efforts, Ms. Montanari has represented public safety in several programs at the federal level including the Tactical Interoperable Communications (TIC) plan review, Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) review, Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant review, and National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) development and Goal 1 evaluation criteria and as a peer reviewer for NECP Goal 1.  She is a member of the SAFECOM Emergency Response Council, the National Secretary and Past-President of the Motorola Trunked Users Group (MTUG), and NPSTC’s Broadband Working Groups for Priority and Quality of Service, and Local control.

Role in NPSTC: Committee Vice Chair, Spectrum Management Committee, Working Group Chair, 700 MHz Advocacy Working Group.  

Job History: Mr. Overby has over 37 years of experience in spectrum management and communications. This includes over 25 years in Motorola where he is currently Senior Director, 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. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Communications and Technology Committee, a contributor to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Communications Committee and served on the former Homeland Security Committee of Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO International).

Education: Mr. Overby holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Virginia.

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

Job History:  Paul Patrick is currently the Deputy Division Director for the Utah Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Preparedness.  Mr. Patrick is also the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Director for the State of Utah.  In addition he is a member of the National Association of EMS Officials (NASEMSO) Board of Directors.  Mr. Patrick was elected as President-Elect for NASEMSO serving in that position until the annual meeting 2015, when he will become the president for 2 years.  He also is a member of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Preparedness Policy Committee and the CDC Public Health Preparedness Directors.

As a young man, Mr. Patrick worked in the construction industry for 14 years.  In 1978, he certified as an Emergency Medical Technician and worked for 25 years with the Springville Ambulance Service.  From 1983 to 1986, he served as an affiliate faculty member for the Utah Chapter of the American Heart Association, serving as chairman of the chapter for 2 years.  In 1987, Mr. Patrick served 2 years on the national faculty for the American Heart Association.

In 1988, Mr. Patrick began working for the State of Utah, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services as a Regional Consultant.  In addition to his normal duties, he received additional training at the state and national level.  In 2000 he became a Program Manager for the Bureau, supervising the Technical Assistance and Quality Assurance program.  In 2005 he was appointed Acting Director for the Bureau, and in 2006 he was selected as State EMS Director.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Patrick serves on the Public Safety Advisory Committee Executive Committee (PSAC-EC), SAFECOM Executive Committee, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Executive Committee, Public Safety Alliance (PSA), Utah Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and as Chair of the Western Affiliate for the American Stroke Association.  He has been involved in communications improvement in Utah for the past 15 years and also represents NASEMSO as the Communications Chair.

Mr. Patrick has received many quality awards from the Department of Health and was involved extensively during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, preparations for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, and with the many agencies in the state on EMS and communications issues.

Education:  Mr. Patrick is a graduate of the Air University Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.  He received his Eagle Scout award in 1967 and graduated with honors from Springville High School in 1971.  He completed his Design Engineering Degree in 1978 from Brigham Young University.  He is a native of Utah, married, and the father of three children.  He enjoys playing golf, drama, music, design, and reading.

Role in NPSTC:  Committee Chair, Interoperability Committee

Job History:  John Powell has over 32 years of law enforcement experience at the municipal and state levels as a police officer and supervisor for two San Francisco area agencies.  He implemented and/or managed several major projects including a statewide 800 MHz trunked radio system and E-911 computer aided dispatch center for the University of California.  He has served on numerous local, state, national, and international 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 chaired the Interoperability Subcommittee of the FCC’s 700 MHz Public Safety National Coordination Committee (NCC) and has testified before numerous legislative bodies at all levels of government.

While concentrating in the area of wireless telecommunications, he had a wide range of responsibilities in law enforcement administration, emergency management, explosive ordinance disposal, investigations, operations, personnel management, public information, training, and strategic planning.  He has consulting experience with high security access control for NASA and wide area satellite communication systems for the State of California.

Telecommunications Background:  Since leaving the University of California in 2002, Mr. Powell has consulted extensively on issues and projects related to advanced telecommunications technologies, including broadband, interoperability, software defined radio (SDR) and Voice over IP (VoIP) 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.  One of his responsibilities at DHS was serving as principal subject matter author for the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum in 2004.

He served as the first chair of California’s FCC-chartered Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (CalSIEC) from 2003 to 2008.  He is NPSTC’s representative to the DOJ GLOBAL Wireless Security Working Group, a member of the Board of Directors of the Wireless Innovation Forum (formerly the Software Defined Radio Forum), a charter and current member of the Project 25 Steering Committee, and former member of the SAFECOM Executive Committee/current member of its Emergency Response Council within DHS.  He has authored numerous articles for communications sector publications on operational and technical issues related to advanced wireless communications, interoperability, and software defined radio.

Mr. Powell has supported the DHS Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) since its inception in 2002 providing public safety communications-related subject matter expert support to local/state governments.  He worked on the Communications Unit Leader (COML) program since 2007, serving as a member of the DHS-sponsored group that developed the first COML training course, and has subsequently instructed COML classes in over 20 states.  He later served as a principal curriculum developer for the DHS/OEC Communications Unit Awareness Course and the recently released DHS/OEC Auxiliary Emergency Communications Course.

Professional Associations:  Mr. Powell is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section and the IACP Communications and Technology Committee.  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 International Association of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Education:  Mr. Powell holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley.  He holds a lifetime California Junior College teaching credential and is a California POST-certified law enforcement instructor.

Awards & Honors:  Mr. Powell is one of seven 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.  In 2002 at the end of his 32-year law enforcement career, he received the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award and Statewide Police Chief’s Outstanding Service Award.  In 2007, he received NPSTC’s Richard DeMello Award, given to an individual in public safety communications who has demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the local, state and national public safety communications arenas.

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

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

Role in NPSTC:  Participant, representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO)

Job History:  Gigi Smith has been active in public safety communications for over 25 years.  Starting as a call taker and then working her way through the ranks of dispatcher, trainer, supervisor, she now serves as the Police Operations Manager for Salt Lake Valley Communications Center in West Valley City, Utah.  Ms. Smith has worked for various size and types of public safety agencies in Utah and Washington.  During these years, she had the opportunity to work as a call taker and dispatcher in the communication venues of the 1990 Goodwill Games and 2002 Olympics.  

Telecommunications Background:  During her 25 year public safety tenure, Ms. Smith has been an advocate for communications as a profession.  She served as a committee member for the inception of the State of Utah’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Dispatch Certification Program in 1992 and again most recently in 2011 as Utah APCO’s representative to update the original curriculum and continues to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of this Board.  Along with promoting communications as a career, Ms. Smith also has spent numerous hours working to educate the public on the use of 9-1-1.  In doing so, she was awarded The Community Involvement Award by PSDAU in 2002, Utah APCO’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003, and Dispatcher of the Year by the Utah Sheriff’s Association in 2003. 

Ms. Smith has served on Utah APCO’s Board of Officers as a committee member, Vice President, President, Immediate Past President, and Executive Council Representative.  Ms. Smith has been a member of APCO for over 20 years.  She is a member of APCO’s Executive Committee and is currently serving as the Second Vice-President.  As an APCO International member she has served on numerous committees as both member and chair.  Those committees include the 2001 Annual Conference Training Committee, Management, Awards, 9-1-1 Emerging Technology, and Editorial Advisory Committees.  She has served as a Group Leader for APCO’s Governance Committees, as well as serving as one of the first two Western Region Board of Directors, and speaker at the first annual Women’s Conference.

Along with her passion for public safety communications, Ms. Smith and her husband are the proud parents of two children.  Through her desire to keep them and all children safe, she served as a member of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s 9-1-1 Executive Committee.  Ms. Smith spends time with telecommunicators from agencies all over the nation to help promote NCMEC’s Partner Program and the safety of all children.

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.  He also serves on APCO’s broadband committee.  Mr. Sorley was an active participant in the Software Defined Radio Forum as a representative of NPSTC.  Mr. Sorley currently serves as Governing Board Vice-Chair for the Department of Homeland Security Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program, NPSTC Technology Chairman, and Vice Chairman for the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee. 

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

Job History: Robert Speidel is Advisor – Standards & Regulatory with Harris Corp., Public Safety & Professional Communications Unit, 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); and Chairman of the TIA TR-8.17 RF Hazards engineering subcommittee.

Education: Mr. Speidel holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from 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.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair Emeritus and Past Chair

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

Job History:  Assistant Deputy Chief Michael Sullivan is a 33-year veteran with Ottawa Fire Services currently on secondment to the City of Ottawa, Canada, as the Program Director for the City Radio Project.

Assistant Deputy Chief Sullivan has an extensive background in a wide range of firefighting services from suppression and training to communications with ever expanding leadership roles.  After a serious injury sustained on the job, he focused his energies on a myriad of technology-related projects.  In 2003 he received the General Manager’s Commendation Award for implementing a state of the art CAD and RMS.

Telecommunications Background:  Since 2010, Assistant Deputy Chief Sullivan has been supporting the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) as their lead on the issue of 700 MHz broadband for mission critical public safety data in Canada.  In 2011 he was asked to be their representative on the Interim Board of the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG), a role he continues today.  He is also the CAFC representative on the Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management (SOREM) Federal/Provincial/Territorial Interoperability Working Group.

Education:  Assistant Deputy Chief Sullivan is a sought after speaker and commentator on public safety interoperability.  He holds an Economics degree from Carleton University.  He is married with three adult children.  In October 2012 he was honored with the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal.

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

Role in NPSTC:  Committee Vice Chair, Technology Committee

Job History:  Andrew Thiessen is the Head of Standards and Requirements development for the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program, a joint program between the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards and NTIA's Institute for Telecommunications Sciences.

Mr. Thiessen leads the standards development efforts for the PSCR, which includes working in such standards development organizations as 3GPP, ATIS, and GMSA, representing the First Responder Network Authority.  Mr. Thiessen is the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) Laboratory Program Manager.  He is also the Vice-Chair of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Technology Committee and chair of the NPSTC Broadband Working Group (700 MHz).  

Mr. Thiessen has 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, a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Duke 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 Department) for his work in public safety communications.

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

Job History:  Inspector Lance Valcour O.O.M. retired from the Ottawa Police Service in February 2010 after 33 years of service.  For the 2 years prior to retirement and up to late 2011, he worked for the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) where Mr. Valcour spearheaded the creation and development of Canada’s national interoperability program known as the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG).  In December 2011, during the Fifth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop, the Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police, Fire and EMS announced that they were transitioning CITIG to fall under their governance. They also announced that Mr. Valcour had accepted the role of Executive Director for CITIG, a position he continues to hold today.

Telecommunications Background:  Inspector Valcour has extensive Communications Interoperability, Incident Command, Leadership, Investigative, Strategic Planning and Technology Program/Project Management experience at the national and international levels.  He works cooperatively with numerous national and international strategic organizations such as the Canadian Associations’ of Chiefs of Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services. He is on the Boards of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Ride for Dad Canada, a Not-for-Profit focused on fighting prostate cancer.  He also works closely with government and non-governmental departments and agencies in Canada and internationally to effectively plan, lead, support, and foster major projects and initiatives, primarily in the information sharing and public safety interoperability fields.

Inspector Valcour is an internationally sought after speaker and has conducted a wide range of International Research in numerous regions and countries that include the United States, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. 

In addition to numerous other national and international awards, on May 26, 2010 Mr. Valcour was invested as an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.  This investiture recognizes his lifetime of achievement, conspicuous merit, and exceptional service to the nation. 

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.

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Alternate for Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International

Job History:  John Wright was elected to the office of 2nd Vice President of Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International for the 2012–2013 term in August 2012.  He is an APCO Senior Member, Chapter Life Member, and Association Life Member with nearly 25 years of service to the Association. 

As a Middle Manager for a metropolitan city with a population of more than 300,000, Mr. Wright has managed a $5 to $7 million annual Communications Division budget, participated in managing a $92.7 million department budget, managed more than 75 employees and support/service personnel, worked as project manager on several local and regional interoperability projects, and participated in multiple contract negotiations.  He has successfully acquired UASI and COPS grant funds for several projects, including a $1.1 million regional interoperability project.  Having worked 11 years for the Riverside Fire Department as a Fire Dispatcher and then as a Firefighter, before working 28 years for the Riverside, CA, Police Department, he has the unique insight into the critical and significantly different operations of the fire service and law enforcement.  Having worked as a combined Police/Fire 9-1-1 PSAP Advanced EMD-certified Dispatcher, PSAP Shift Supervisor, PSAP Training Supervisor, PSAP Administrative Supervisor, and interim Communications Division Manager gives Mr. Wright the operational experience to fully understand the support, equipment, and specialized training needed by professional telecommunicators and 911 centers. 

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Wright is very active in his participation and service to APCO.  At the chapter level, he served the Southern California (CPRA) Chapter as its Treasurer and has served two terms as Chapter President, Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Operations Committee Chair. Regionally, Mr. Wright served as an APCO AFC Local Frequency Advisor, an active member of the Region 5 700 MHz and 800 MHz Planning committees, and as a member of the National Regional Planning Council (NPRC).  John is the recipient of the APCO RF Technician of the Year award as well as the Chapter Communications Center Supervisor of the Year award.

At the APCO International level, Mr. Wright served as Vice-Chair of the APCO Spectrum Management Committee and Chair of the APCO Technician Certification/Testing Review Sub-Committee for the APCO Institute.  He has participated in multiple APCO activities, including serving two terms as Chair of the APCO Telecommunications Management Committee, member of the APCO 9-1-1 Emerging Technologies Committee, and member of the APCO Communications Center Practices Task Force.  Mr. Wright has worked on several APCO Projects (Project 33, Project 40), and served on four APCO Regional Conferences as Program Chair, Finance Chair, and General Arrangements Chair.

Education:  Mr. Wright has completed college electronics courses, technical school training, and military communications training (Vietnam War Veteran).  Mr. Wright is also an Amateur Radio enthusiast and a member of the local R.A.C.E.S. group.