This morning, Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Dr. Rebecca Blank announced the members of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board of directors. The leadership includes Chief Jeff Johnson, IAFC president 2009-2010 and current CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
“The IAFC is very pleased with the board appointments, which represent not only an excellent cross-section of stakeholders, but also some of the most knowledgable and forward-thinking public safety experts on this issue,” said Chief Hank Clemmensen, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “Chief Jeff Johnson was a leading voice for the fire service on this issue for years, but what’s great about Chief Johnson and many of these other appointments is that these people are not just about talk. These people are real public safety officers who have demonstrated they are willing and able to roll up their sleeves, work collaboratively and get the job done. This project will require a dedicated effort over the next decade, and we commend the government for taking the first steps in such an efficient manner.”
FirstNet, which is directed to establish a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network, is an independent authority organized within the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).