Role in NPSTC:  FEMA Coordinator

Background:  Karl E. Arriola, Ph.D. began his previous career in law enforcement in 1986 as Florida State Trooper and Advanced Field Training Officer.  In 2001, he was promoted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Federal Air Marshal, in 2009, was promoted to Special Agent with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and in 2013 promoted to Federal Program Manager.  After obtaining his doctoral degree of Industrial Organizational Psychology in 2014, he started his own small business practicing as an I/O Psychologist.  After 6 years of small business ownership, he stepped back into Federal government, and as of April 2020, was appointed as FEMA's Regional Emergency Communications Coordinator and Disaster Emergency Communications Planning Manager.  Karl is also a very active Amateur Radio Operator since 1994, and currently holds a General Class and SHARES license.

Education:  Doctoral degree of Industrial Organizational Psychology in 2014; M.S. in General Psychology, and B.S. Criminal Justice Administration.

Curt Bashford, Chief Executive Officer at General Devices, a 40+ year Medical-Tech company and self-proclaimed Chief Protagonist of Responsive Innovation.  His experience at GD spans over 33 years beginning in 1986 and includes developing and marketing telecom and telemedicine solutions for Emergency Medical Services, hospitals and healthcare industries.  He has a demonstrated history with hundreds of projects in major hospital systems, and EMS organizations spanning the country from LA County Fire to FDNY, including FirstNet projects.  Curt holds BSEE and MS in Biomedical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and is a former EMT.  He is a member of National Association of EMS Physicians, NJ Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization, and an active participant of the NPSTC EMS Working Group.  Curt also participates in national speaking panels and presentations sharing his experience.  He is a former scoutmaster and past president of his civic association.

Jim Bugel is Vice President, FirstNet Program for AT&T.  Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Bugel oversees AT&T's strategy and policy for all state, local and federal public safety initiatives including FirstNet implementation and the FirstNet Response Operations Group.  He has long been a supporter of improving public safety communications.  With over 25 years of experience in the wireless and wired telecommunications industry, Mr. Bugel has a significant background in public safety, national security, cybersecurity and emergency preparedness.

Mr. Bugel worked with Congress and the nation's public safety leadership to help pass The Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 – the legislation that created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). FirstNet is an independent authority established to provide emergency responders with the first nationwide, high-speed, broadband network dedicated to public safety.  Most recently, he led AT&T's complex and successful bid to build the FirstNet network – a 25-year federal contract AT&T was honored to receive in March of 2017.

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

Job History:  Martha Carter has been an APCO member since 1989 and has worked in government and public safety communications for over 33 years. She is the Administrator for the 9-1-1 Emergency Reporting System for the citizens of Caddo Parish in Shreveport, Louisiana. On November 16, 1988, she became the first woman in Louisiana to hold the title of 9-1-1 Administrator. In this capacity, Ms. Carter is responsible for the overall management and administration of the 9-1-1 emergency, which receives approximately 400,000 calls per year and coordinates the public safety communications operations with all of the various law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services throughout the parish. The Caddo Parish 9-1-1 system serves approximately 254,887 citizens. Ms. Carter manages an operating budget of over $7.5 million, and under her leadership, her team has successfully implemented a parish-wide 7-site, 15-channel 800 MHz simulcast trunked radio system with a microwave system, which supports over 85 public safety and local governmental entities with over 5,000 radio users; a parish-wide mobile data system with 800 units; a parish-wide alpha-numeric paging system; and a parish-wide CAD and RMS system for the parish’s public safety agencies. 

Background:  Prior to coming to the Caddo Parish 9-1-1 District in 1988, Ms. Carter was employed by the City of Shreveport beginning in 1980, as an Information Services Aide in the Mayor’s Office to handle citizens’ questions and complaints regarding city services. In 1982, she was promoted and her primary responsibility was the implementation of a new telephone system for all city agencies. In 1987, Ms. Carter assumed the position of an Assistant to the Mayor and functional job responsibilities as Telecommunications Manager for the City. In 1996, she was named as one of the top ten Young Business Leaders by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Carter’s service to APCO started within the Louisiana Chapter of APCO, and she has served in different capacities over the years. This has included serving as Chapter President in 1995 and again in 1999, and by serving as chair of the Louisiana APCO/NENA Legislative Committee since 1995. In 2009, the Chapter elected her to serve as the APCO Executive Council Representative for Louisiana. 

Through her service to the Louisiana Chapter, it also afforded her the opportunity to serve APCO at the national level through committee work. Her service at the national level has included:  Serving on the APCO International Advisory Committee to the Institute from 2002-2004; serving on the APCO International Awards Committee from 2001-2004; chairing the APCO International 9-1-1 Emerging Issues Committee from 2004-2005; chairing the APCO International PBX Committee from 2003-2004; and chairing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) Working Group 1A from January 2010 to March 2011. The objective of Working Group 1A was to identify challenges to public safety consolidation efforts and develop recommended best practices for overcoming them. On October 2010, the working group presented its report to CSRIC in Washington, D.C. 

Ms. Carter served as a member of the APCO Special Conference Task Force from August 2010 to August 2012, as well as a member of the APCO Executive Council Management Committee from October 2011 to August 2013 and served as chair of the Management Committee from January 2012 to August 2013. In 2013, she was appointed as a member of the 2014 Conference Committee, serving as Local Flavor Chair. In February 2013, the APCO Executive Council Members of the Gulf Coast Region elected her to serve as a Regional Board of Director representative until August 2015, when she was elected to the APCO Executive Committee. She served on and chaired the Finance and Budget Committee and was a member of APCO’s Long Range Strategic Planning Committee from September, 2014 to August 2015. In August of 2014, Ms. Carter received APCO’s Senior and Life Member Designations.

Education:  Ms. Carter received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Louisiana State University in Political Science in 1981.

Role in NPSTC:  FirstNet Liaison

Job History:  Kim Coleman Madsen is the Broadband Implementation Manager at the Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT). She and the FirstNet Colorado team are responsible for coordinating efforts across Colorado to plan for and implement the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) and work with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to ensure the technology needs of Colorado’s first responders are met.

Ms. Coleman Madsen has more than 22 years experience in public safety communications. She began her career in 1995 as a dispatcher for the Vail Police Department, eventually working as a Communications Training Officer. In 2000, she became a dispatcher at the Broomfield Police Department (BPD). Promoted to Communications Supervisor in 2002, she was responsible for the 24/7 operations and technology of the BPD Communications Center. Ms. Coleman Madsen was awarded BPD Civilian Supervisor of the Year in 2003.

Telecommunications Background:  In 2008, Ms. Coleman Madsen moved to OIT as the Public Safety Communications Network (PSCN) Policy and Project Manager, guiding programmatic and project efforts related to system build-out, funding and sustainability, and grant programs for the statewide public safety communications networks. She also provided oversight to the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) role within Colorado.

Ms. Coleman Madsen returned to OIT in 2014, after a brief stint in the private sector implementing Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, to manage the daily FirstNet Colorado planning efforts and the ~$3M award through the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP). Recently, she was assigned to work on statewide broadband strategy, including initiatives related to NextGen 911, education, healthcare, and economic development.

Ms. Coleman Madsen participates in many national public safety communications efforts and also currently chairs the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Broadband Emerging Technologies Working Group.

Education:  She received the Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) in 2015 and holds a Bachelor's degree in French and Art History from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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)

Job History:  Mike Corey has been a licensed Amateur Radio operator since 1988 and currently holds Amateur Extra Class license KI1U. He has been involved with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service since 1991 and served as Emergency Coordinator for Lafayette County, Mississippi from 2007-2010. He has also been involved with the National Weather Service SKYWARN® program for over 20 years and served as a local SKYWARN® coordinator in northern Mississippi. Mr. Corey, along with Victor Morris, authored the book “Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio” published by the ARRL, now in its second edition. He also served as co-managing editor of the ARRL Public Service Communications Handbook and is a regular contributor to QST.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Corey also has a background in public safety communications. From 2001-2006, he served as a communications officer for the Howard County Sheriff’s Department in Kokomo, Indiana.  While there, he chaired the communications contingency planning committee. From 2006-2010, he served as a communications officer with the University of Mississippi Police Department. While at the University of Mississippi, he served as a public safety instructor and guest lecturer. Currently he serves as the ARRL representative to National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and is involved in their technology working group. Mr. Corey also has served as an emergency management volunteer. From 2001-2005 he served, in a volunteer capacity, as a police officer and communications officer for the Kokomo-Howard County Emergency Management Agency. While in Mississippi, he volunteered to assist during hurricane Gustav with the St. Helena Parish Office of Homeland Security. Currently Mr. Corey serves as interim chair of Connecticut VOAD and on the Episcopal Relief and Development Disaster Response Committee for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

Education:  Mr. Corey holds a Bachelors degree from Indiana University with a concentration in Political Science and a Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of Mississippi.

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

Job History:  Sharon Counterman brings over 36 years of experience in the public safety field.  Ms. Counterman is currently the Senior Project Manager for NGA 911, which provides an End-to-End cloud based NG9-1-1 Solution to clients in the public safety industry.

She is the former Deputy Director of Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Network.  Ms. Counterman is the former Director of the fourth largest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the United States, the Houston Emergency Center, Houston, TX.  She is retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas, NV, where she was the Operations Director for the Communications Center, with 28 years of service.

Telecommunications Background:  During her tenure running two major public safety communications centers and as Deputy Director of a 9-1-1 District, Ms. Counterman obtained vast experience in operations and management.  Her experience covers communications consolidation, best practices, accreditation, training, and emergency management.  She also has extensive experience in communications, network infrastructure, database implementation, maintenance, and wireless.

Ms. Counterman has worked in the federal, state, and local areas to further enhance the public safety agenda.  She was a member serving on several national committees dealing with Standards, Pandemic Influenza, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Communications Security, Reliability & Interoperability Council (CSRIC)-Working Group 7, Homeland Security Emergency Services Sector Risk Workshop, and NG9-1-1, and has chaired the Pipeline Emergency Operations Standard, Emergency Call Processing Protocol Standard, and NENA's Report Card to the Nation (RCN) Commission.  She is a Past President of NENA.

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board representative for the Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA)

Job History:  Mr. Damm has 30 years of public safety experience with an emphasis on communications and firefighting operations. He is currently the Communication Systems Director for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Telecommunications Background:  In addition to the land mobile radio system he manages, he was responsible for designing and managing IP networks in both the public and private sectors. His IP networking and fire operations background naturally led to his current work. He is President of the Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA) and a member of the State Advisory Workgroup for the Washington State Interoperability Executive Committee. Mr. Damm is also a ham radio operator.

Education:  Mr. Damm holds a Bachelors degree in Business from Washington Governors University and computer science certificates from the University of Washington.

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board 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 has served and continues to serve on many Boards and Committees including:  National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) Past President and currently represents NSA with the Department of Homeland Security Councils:  SAFECOM, Chairman of the Emergency Service Sector Coordinating Council (ESSCC), Science & Technology (S&T) Committee, First Responders Resource Group (FRRG) and National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).  Sheriff Fitzgerald served as an inaugural member of the First Responders network Authority known as FirstNet. He also served on the Board of Directors for Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) and the NSA Executive Committee.

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 has four adult children.

Role in NPSTC:  Paul Gilbert represents the American Association of State Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on the NPSTC Governing Board

Job History:  Paul Gilbert is a member of the Special Committee on Wireless Communications Technology, where he represents AASHTO on the TIA P25 Steering Committee and as the TIA P25 User Needs Committee Chairman. 

Mr. Gilbert works for The Texas Department of Transportation, Radio & Technology Support, where he oversees state wide radio operations as the State Wide Radio Coordinator. At TxDOT, he covers FCC-FAA, interoperability communications, VHF, UHF, 800, and HF SSB radio systems. 

Telecommunications Background:  He has 35 years experience in public safety and communications fields, including the past 12 years at TxDOT. Mr. Gilbert is a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, an Extra Class Amateur Operator, a COMT, and the Texas State Guard J6 HQ Staff Radio Officer.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair

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

Job History:  Jim Holthaus is currently the Vice President-Project 25 Solutions for RELM Wireless. Mr. Holthaus has been active in the development of Land Mobile Radio products since 1993 and has been an active participant in development of the P25 Digital Radio Standards. He is currently responsible for product definition and market analysis for RELM Wireless with current focus on development of RELM’s P25 mobile and portable radio products. As such, Mr. Holthaus has been actively involved in fielding trunked radios products on various public safety networks. He has also participated in DHS-CAP Interoperability Test Events at various infrastructure vendor facilities. 

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Holthaus has been involved in the development of Project 25 Standards and Products is currently chair of the TIA-TR8.25 Compliance Assessment Formulating Group and TIA/APIC Vocoder Task Group. He has also chaired the TIA/TR8.4 Vocoder and TIA/TR8.10 Trunking Subcommittees. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), Vice Chair of the P25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG), and Chair of the Telecommunications Industry Association Private Radio Section.

Education:  Mr. Holthaus received a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an M.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University. 

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

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Member, representing the Utilities Technology Council (UTC)

Job History:  Brett Kilbourne is currently Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs and Deputy General Counsel at the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) where he provides legal guidance to utilities on telecommunications issues both pending before federal and state agencies and being considered in Congress.

UTC is the national representative on telecommunications matters for its electric, gas, and water utilities and natural gas pipeline company members, which range in size from large combination electric-gas-water utilities which serve millions of customers, to smaller, rural electric cooperatives and water districts which serve only a few thousand customers each.

Education:  Mr. Kilbourne received his Juris Doctor degree in 1998 from Catholic University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from the University of the South.  He is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland, and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Alternate Member representing AASHTO

Job History:  John Lenihan has 39 years of experience in the Fire Service. He has experience in a wide variety of disciplines including jobs as:  Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic; Wildland firefighting (CalFire 1977-1981 and Los Angeles County Fire 1981- 2016); Aviation (Air Operations Branch Director, licensed pilot); Dispatch (assigned to LA County Fire Dispatch); and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).

Chief Lenihan was deployed during the Northridge, CA, earthquake,1994; Oklahoma City, OK Bombing, 1995; La Conchita mudslide, Ventura County, CA,1995; Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, LA, 2005; and the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake, 2011.

Telecommunications Background:  Chief Lenihan brings excellent leadership qualities to his work and he understands the needs of the first responder. From 2006 to 2014, he led the Los Angeles County Fire Department's efforts in the formation of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and the development of its System Specifications.

Chief Lenihan has broad communications experience, including appointment by the FCC to the Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) Public Safety Advisory Board; participation in the DHS Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIP) review process; and attendance at OIC/OEC Emergency Response Council (ERC) events. 

He has participated in the following NPSTC Working Groups:  NPSTC Broadband SoR, NPSTC EMS WG, NPSTC Public Safety Grade WG, and on the NPSTC Interoperability Committee. Chief Lenihan has also participated in the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Program work on Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS). 

Role in NPSTC:  Alternate Governing Board member representing the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Job History:  Ted Lienhard has designed, implemented, and managed the statewide radio system of the Nevada Department of Wildlife for 21 years. He designed and built the custom remote control system used in the Nevada Department of Wildlife's statewide radio system when no suitable commercially produced remote controls were in existence. This custom remote control equipment made statewide radio communications possible for the Department of Wildlife.  

Mr. Leinhard implemented the first mobile radio system in Nevada capable of direct inter-agency communications with all desired Sheriff's offices, federal, and state agencies using only one mobile radio per vehicle or vessel. He coordinated inter-agency agreements between Wildlife and all other cooperating entities. Mr. Leinhard initiated and developed the Nevada Department of Wildlife's Statewide Dispatch Center. He designed new, higher-reliability solar-powered mountaintop repeater installations. 

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Leinhard is past President and Board member of the Forestry-Conservation Communications Association (FCCA) and served as Frequency Coordinator of FCCA Region IV (12 western states & Guam). He is a past member-representative on the Public Safety Communications Council (PSCC), the Land Mobile Communications Council, and the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), which was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to evaluate the wireless communications needs of local, tribal, state, and federal public safety agencies through the year 2010, identify problems, and recommend possible solutions.  

Mr. Leinhard is past Chairman of the Nevada State Communications Board Technical Committee and has been a technology consultant since 1988. He has been married to Lauri for 38 years and has five children and eight grandchildren. 

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Representative for Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA)

Job History:  Mr. Maxymillian is currently a Principal, and part owner, of Blue Wing Services.  Blue Wing Services provides engineering and project management radio communications consulting to public safety, as well as business and industrial clients.  Blue Wing has been providing radio communications consulting expertise for over 20 years.  Services include design, system integration, deployment, project management, and system implementation, performance verification, and quality oversight.

Mr. Maxymillian is also President of the Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA).  GWTCA advocates for policies of importance to its members and promotes the advancement of wireless technology and communications as an effective means for public transit, other public service and public safety agencies to complete their missions.

Background:  Mr. Maxymillian's professional experience includes nearly 30 years in the radio communications industry.  His career began with the United State Air Force as a ground radio technician and manager.  After his honorable discharge from service, he was hired by E.F. Johnson to direct the engineering, installation, and acceptance of the Washington State Department of Transportation's statewide trunked radio system.  Following his tenure at E.F. Johnson, Mr. Maxymillian spent 3 years as a program director for M/A-COM, where he managed the installation, optimization, training and maintenance of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public Safety Wireless Digital Communications Network.

Most recently, Mr. Maxymillian has been involved in 800 MHz rebanding efforts for various large-scale and multi-jurisdictional public safety radio networks.  He has written numerous articles for trade publications, including one that presents and discusses the viability and timeline of voice over LTE networks.  He speaks frequently at industry events on topics such as project management, radio system design, and interference mitigation.

Mr. Maxymillian also currently serves on various NPSTC committees, including Spectrum Management and Broadband.  He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Radio Resources' Mission Critical Communications, and IWCE's Advisory Committee.  Professional affiliations include the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the Radio Club of America (elected as a Fellow in 2016), and the Project Management Institute (PMI).  Mr. Maxymillian is certified by PMI as a Project Management Professional (PMP).  He served as a Board member of PMI's Information Technology & Telecommunications Community of Practice, serving as Chair.  He also serves as a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Cubmaster for his son's Cub Scout pack 503.

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Member, representing 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 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 Forestry-Conservation Communications Association (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, and continues to do so on an ad hoc basis representing WDFW. He was, prior to retirement, an associate member of the Washington Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association (WASPC) and has served on its technical committee regarding radio communications.

Lt. McIntosh serves on the P25 Steering Committee representing FCCA and previously represented the AFWA on the NPSTC Governing Board for several years, rejoining after retirement.

Telecommunications Background: Lt. McIntosh managed radio communications for WDFW for almost 20 years and is currently working part time to continue those duties. He is an actual field practitioner of radio communications and manages WDFW Police’s fully interoperable statewide conventional and now partially trunked P25 radio fleet.  He manages radio infrastructure and fleets including procurement and deployment. He is currently expanding and maintaining a statewide RoIP and dispatch system for WDFW, the WILDCOMM System, operated from WDFW HQ in Olympia, WA.

Certifications: Lt. McIntosh has been a licensed amateur radio operator for almost 50 years and is a member of the Radio Club of America.

Education: Lt. McIntosh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Washington State University (1972).

Role in NPSTC:  Alternate Governing Board member, representing the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)

Job History:  Seth Newberry brings more than 25 years of experience in the global telecommunications industry with successful operational, technical, team management, and business development roles.  Mr. Newberry is the General Manager of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) where he directs the operations for the organization.  The Open Mobile Alliance delivers open specifications for creating interoperable services that work across all geographical boundaries, on any bearer network. Its membership includes all key elements of the wireless value chain, and it contributes to the timely and efficient introduction of services and applications to the market.

Prior to his role at OMA, Mr. Newberry was Vice President of Research for RHK, Inc. (now OVUM), managing a team of more than 15 analysts covering the global telecoms industry.  He was instrumental in building the strong brand, respected analyst team, and intellectual reputation at RHK.

Background:  Mr. Newberry has extensive experience in systems integration, network operations, and field support.  He served as division General Manager for Ascom Network Services and managed the operations and partner development functions for Wildfire Communications, a speech-based unified messaging platform developer serving mobile operators.  He held similar roles for Octel Communications (a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent).

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Alternate, representing the Utilities Technology Council (UTC)

Job History:  Mike Oldak has been Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & General Counsel, Utilities Technology Council, since November 2009.  He is responsible for strategic initiatives related to the telecommunications and IT/OT interests of energy and water utilities and other critical infrastructure entities.  Mr. Oldak is Program Manager for UTC’s Utility Modernization Program, which supports utility understanding of the benefits of modernization and provides utilities with a cost-effective and efficient approach.

Background:  Previously, Mr. Oldak was Sr. Director, State Competitive and Regulatory Policies, Edison Electric Institute; Regulatory Counsel for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Attorney, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Enforcement and Electric and Gas Rates Division; and Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy.

Education:  Mr. Oldak has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Administrative & Management Science from Carnegie-Mellon University.  He received his Juris Doctor at Georgetown University Law Center.

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

Job History:  Craig Orgeron has over 26 years of information technology experience in both the private sector and the federal and state level of the public sector. Dr. Orgeron began his career as a communications-computer systems officer in the United States Air Force. Currently, he serves as the as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) and Chief Information Officer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, Dr. Orgeron provides statewide leadership in the provision of services that facilitate cost-effective information processing and telecommunication solutions for agencies and institutions.

Telecommunications Background:  Dr. Orgeron has served as President of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and participated in numerous government information technology task forces and committees, such as the Mississippi Broadband Task Force, the Digital Signature Committee, the Electronic Government Task Force, and the Governor’s Commission on Digital Government, which led to the implementation of the enterprise electronic government in Mississippi. 

Education:  Dr. Orgeron holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS, a Master’s degree, and Doctorate in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University. Dr. Orgeron is a certified public manager and a graduate of the Senator John C. Stennis State Executive Development Institute, as well as the Institute on International Digital Government Research, and the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Series, Leadership for a Networked World.

Role in NPSTC:  NPSTC Governing Board Alternate Representative representing the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

Job History:  Mr. Parry is currently a 9-1-1 consultant to NGA911, an innovative company that is revolutionizing 9-1-1 caller location accuracy issues.  He was recently the Program Manager for the 911 Division of the State of Utah.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Parry spent 23 years as a police officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has published a book titled “Managing the 9-1-1 Center” and designed a course for 9-1-1 managers based on this publication.

Mr. Parry was the main Police Consultant to Priority Dispatch Corp. for 8 years, where he was involved in the design and implementation of Emergency Police call taking and dispatch protocols and inter-related systems.

He has been a member of the Association of Public-Safety Officials (APCO) – International and NENA since 1993, and has served as the chair of the NENA Education Advisory Committee for over 15 years.

Education:  Mr. Parry was instrumental in developing NENA’s Center Manager Certification Program, and in June 2009, was presented with the William E. Stanton Award recognizing his contributions to public safety communications.

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 and President of the Association.  He also is a member of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Preparedness Policy Committee and the Utah Public Health Preparedness Directors.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Patrick serves on the Public Safety Advisory Committee Executive Committee (PSAC-EC), National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) Board of Directors, SAFECOM Executive Committee, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Executive Committee, Public Safety Alliance (PSA), and the Utah Communications Authority (UCA).  He has been involved in communications improvement in Utah for the past 15 years and also represents NASEMSO as the Communications Committee 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 is a native of Utah, married, and the father of three children.  He received his Eagle Scout award in 1967 and graduated with honors from Springville High School, Brigham Young University, and Western Governors University.

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

Job History:  Derek Poarch is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of APCO International. APCO provides advocacy for the public safety communications community before Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). APCO also provides public safety communications frequency coordination and training for public safety communications supervisors, call takers, and telecommunicators.  

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

Job History:  Deputy Chief Reyes is a Senior Law Enforcement Project Manager with the Police Foundation overseeing projects like the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Technology Innovation for Public Safety (TIPS), Online Flight Data and Incident Reporting System for Public Safety Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), and the White House Police Data Initiative (PDI). Before joining the Police Foundation, he was the Deputy Chief of Police, Amtrak Police Department, Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes all states between Pennsylvania and Florida, from February to November 2016. Prior to that, Deputy Chief Reyes retired from the Alexandria Police Department as the Senior Deputy Chief after 25 total years of service.  

Telecommunications Background:  In 2002, he was assigned fulltime to the National Institute of Justice CommTech Program (formerly the AGILE Program) and served there for 3 years conducting research, development, and outreach in the communications and the interoperability arena. Deputy Chief Reyes managed public safety radio interoperability operations for the City of Alexandria and continues to be a key player in the National Capital Region (NCR) on communications, interoperability, data-sharing, mobile broadband, license plate reader programs, and most recently, body worn camera programs. In the NCR, he chaired the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Police Technology Subcommittee. During his tenure, and in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), this subcommittee focused on implementing a regional law enforcement data sharing system (Law Enforcement Information Exchange – LInX) that includes NCIS and now over 160 municipalities in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Deputy Chief Reyes currently serves as Chairman of the Communications and Technology Committee, for the IACP, previously serving as the Chairman of the IACP Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section. He is also a member of the SAFECOM Executive Committee, and in 2011, was appointed as Vice-Chair of the FCC Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Education: Deputy Chief Reyes is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Leadership Alexandria 2010, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police, and a former adjunct professor at George Mason University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University and earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration with a concentration in Administration of Justice at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

Role in NPSTC:  Chair, Spectrum Management Committee; Chair, Common Channel Naming Working Group

Job History:  Since 2006 Mr. Root has served as the wireless operations manager for a southern California county, and is responsible for the operations of a large regional trunked radio network.  From 1984 to 2006, Mr. Root was with the Telecommunications Branch of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES).  While with OES, Mr. Root held positions from field coordinator to Chief of the Telecommunications Branch, and worked at locations covering all areas of California. 

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Root has extensive experience in public safety telecommunications and warning systems governance, design, implementation, and operations. While at OES, Mr. Root served as California’s Statewide Interoperability Coordinator, managing the state’s Mutual Aid Communications and Interoperability programs, and organizing the California Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SWIC).  Mr. Root was responsible for the design and implementation of communications augmentation systems for nine federally declared disasters and multiple planned events throughout California, including the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 1994 World Cup Soccer semi-finals and finals, numerous widespread flooding events, wildfires, Year 2000 contingencies, and political conventions.

In 1992, Mr. Root was the first emergency management official appointed to the FCC’s Emergency Broadcast System Advisory Committee, and worked with the FCC and the broadcast industry through the development and implementation of the Emergency Alert System in 1997.  He was a participant in the interoperability subcommittees of the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC) in 1996-97 and the Public Safety National Coordinating Committee (NCC) in 1999-2003.  Mr. Root was the convener of the Northern California (Region 6) 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee, and has served as a member of the SAFECOM Emergency Response Council.

Mr. Root is a Life Member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL); a Life Member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) and serves as the Chair of APCO’s Spectrum Management Committee; and is a member of the Radio Club of America (RCA).  In 2009 Mr. Root was the 4^th recipient of NPSTC’s annual Richard DeMello Award, presented 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 arena. 

Role in NPSTC:  Committee Vice Chair, Spectrum Management Committee; NPSTC Governing Board Member, representing the National Association of State Technology Directors (NASTD)

Job History:  Charlie Sasser is currently assigned the responsibilities of Enterprise Data Governance Strategies and Public Safety Communications Spectrum Management for the State of Georgia.  During the past 15 years with the Georgia Technology Authority assignments have included:  IT Asset Management Consulting, Telecommunications Vendor Management, IT Contract Management, TeleCom Service Quality Management, TeleCom Operations Management, Enterprise Technology Planning, and Enterprise IT Security.

Prior to working for Georgia Technology Authority, IT management roles include 5 years IT consulting with various IT services companies; 18 years with BellSouth Telecommunications in management assignments in Data Center Operations, System Software Support, Application Development, and Project Management; and 10 years in the U.S. Navy with NavSecGru assignments in Asia, Europe, and Washington, D.C.

Telecommunications Background:  Mr. Sasser has been a member in the National Association of State Technology Directors for 14 years.  He has served on the SAFECOM Emergency Response Council representing the National Association of State Technology Directors for 12 years.  Mr. Sasser has served for 4 years on the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee representing the National Association of State Technology Directors.

Role in NPSTC: Governing Board Chair Emeritus and Past Chair

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Representative for the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC)

Job History:  Bradley A. Stoddard serves as the director of Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), the second largest trunked communication system in the world. His oversight includes administration of a statewide 800/700 MHz digital trunked radio communication network that spans 59,415 square miles and includes more than 246 radio towers and over 71,000 radios. Under Mr. Stoddard’s direction, the internationally recognized statewide P25 network adheres to national standards to ensure a stable and secure framework for interoperable communications between local, state, federal, tribal, and private first responders while also pushing the envelope to integrate and aide in the development of new technologies that will leverage the existing statewide public safety communications investments.

As part of a current effort to expand the landscape of Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System, Mr. Stoddard is at the forefront of an inaugural program to build a nationwide public safety broadband network for first responders. His vision for the public safety broadband wireless network in Michigan is a state-of-the-art platform for emergency communication capable of providing better and faster field situational awareness, live full-motion video, and expanded data access capabilities. Mr. Stoddard has served as the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) for Michigan for the past seven years and is involved in many workgroups of the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC).

Telecommunications Background: Mr. Stoddard has been involved in a number of National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) and Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) national working groups, serving in various roles as chair, vice-chair, and workgroup member, providing expertise and input as national standards are developed, white papers and guidance documents are published, and ensuring the public safety needs are not lost.

He has served on the FEMA 5 Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECCWG) for the past 7 years and has served as the vice chair and chair for the past 5 years. Mr. Stoddard has been called upon to educate Michigan elected officials, representing state legislators and congressional members on current and future public safety communications issues. He has also served on the Federal Communication Commission’s past Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) and is a nationally recognized speaker on topics involving identity management, public safety applications, and public safety communications.

Prior to joining the State of Michigan, Mr. Stoddard worked with the U.S. Department of Defense at the Joint National Test Facility, aiding in the development of technologies utilized by the armed forces and federal agencies around the globe. He has served as the Director of Information Technology for the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Michigan Department of Transportation. During his tenure with the State of Michigan, Stoddard managed the public safety mobile computing technologies and implemented key tools for the asset management maintenance/cost tracking system, a critical tracking system supporting day-to-day operations and investments for Michigan's statewide communications system. He also developed and implemented a leading edge identity management criminal justice portal, Michigan’s Criminal Justice Information Network (MiCJIN), for the entire criminal justice community in Michigan.

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:  Alternate Governing Board representative for the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC)

Job History:  Robert (Bob) Symons, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, provides administrative support to the State of Wyoming Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC). He is currently the Wyoming Statewide Interoperable Communications Coordinator. This position includes providing support to the Public Safety Communications Commission and its sub-committees, development of communication training programs, development of interoperable communication programs, and provision of administrative support to Wyoming’s statewide digital trunked radio system called WyoLink.

Background:  Mr. Symons is a member of the SAFECOM, National Council of Statewide Interoperable Coordinators (NCSWIC), and FEMA Region VIII Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Work Group (RECCWG).

His background includes serving 28 years with Sheridan Fire-Rescue in Sheridan Wyoming, with 8 years as the Chief of the Department. He is certified by the National Fire Academy as an Executive Fire Officer.

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

Role in NPSTC:  Governing Board Alternate Representative for the Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA)

Job History:  With over 30 years of wireless experience, Alan Tilles is viewed as one of the "go-to" attorneys in the industry regarding spectrum utilization.  From radio manufacturers, to frequency coordinators, radio engineers, public safety agencies, railroads and utilities, he is frequently called upon to create innovative answers to complex technological problems.

Background:  Mr. Tilles's work in wireless goes well beyond simply reviewing contracts and writing FCC comments.  Using his extensive background owning and running radio stations, he has been at the forefront of conceiving and proposing rules at the FCC to address problems faced by the wireless industry.

Major projects include:  Authoring rules for land mobile radio narrowbanding; representing hundreds of public safety entities in 800 MHz rebanding; working with the Telecommunications Industry Association on its Smart Building Initiative, authoring rules defining interference; writing and evaluating Requests for Proposal to implement public safety radio systems; and helping railroads acquire spectrum for Positive Train Control.  He is a co-founder of the Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association.

Role in NPSTC:  Executive Director, Founding Governing Board Chair

Job History: Ms. Ward brings 43 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 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 twenty-five years.

Background: Ms. Ward served as board member and 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 awards and certificates in her career. Ms. Ward received APCO's highest honor, the J. Rhett McMillian award, and NPSTC's highest honor, the Richard DeMello award.