APCO announces new executive committee, reports on state of the association, hears from federal partners
By Richard Goldstein
The Second General Business Session of APCO 2025 on Tuesday unveiled the executive committee lineup, showcased the state of the association, and highlighted federal government partners who discussed how they can promote progress in public safety communications.
President Stephen P. Martini announced that Michael O’Connor was elected uncontested as first vice president 767- 42. Jennifer Reese of the Oregon Chapter won an uncontested election for second vice president 817-16.
The 2025-2026 APCO Executive Committee is now set, and its members will be sworn in on Wednesday during the Celebrate and Connect Dinner at the conclusion of APCO 2025 in Baltimore. Jack Varnado becomes president, O’Connor becomes first vice president and Reese becomes second vice president. Martini becomes immediate past president and Becky Neugent rotates off the executive committee.
The quorum of APCO voting members also approved an APCO policy manual amendment to correct for an incongruity among two non-discrimination clauses.
Also during the general business session, APCO CEO & Executive Director Mel Maier laid out association accomplishments and milestones during the past year.
The association reported strong engagement at its wellness and staffing summits, drawing over 160 and 220 attendees respectively. The goal of the wellness summit was to help build a supportive wellness culture within public safety. The staffing and retention summit, meanwhile, developed “actionable solutions aimed at building effective ECC teams.” APCO is launching a “Summit Series,” focusing on timely issues, such as artificial intelligence and workforce culture.
Maier said the 9-1-1 Impact Awards honored former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel; former Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Alexandria (Virginia) Emergency Communications Director Renee Gordon; and 2024 hurricane season TERT responders.
The association expanded training offerings domestically and abroad. APCO has formed a partnership with Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Saudia Arabia, and eight U.S. states approved APCO training offerings. APCO also launched Cybersecurity Fundamentals for the ECC, 2nd Ed.; Disaster Operations and the Communications Center, 2nd Ed.; and Staffing and Retention for the ECC, 2nd Ed. Additional courses are in the works for the fall and 2026.
To tackle the recruitment and retention problem head-on, the association introduced a new recruitment toolkit to help ECCs connect with schools and build local hiring pipelines.
Key metrics reflecting APCO activity include:
- Membership grew to 41,885, reflecting the organization’s continued relevance and outreach.
- APCO has 39 active standards, 23 active working groups and 470 working group members.
- To date, over 267 professionals have graduated from the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) program. The Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) program ran nine times this year, graduating 74 participants.
APCO is updating IntelliComm® by seamlessly integrating it with CAD systems, upgrading its usefulness during emergency calls. In addition, access controls were improved for better system administration.
APCO’s AFC spectrum management arm is enjoying a banner year while consulting services reported strong growth with 17 proposals developed as it moves into the international realm.
Maier detailed APCO’s rededicated Walk of Heroes in honor of Kent Kruger at the Daytona Beach, Florida, headquarters. Officials added a new commemorative brick on the walk for the late Mark Spross, honoring both Kruger and Spross’ service and leadership.
Representatives of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) stressed the collaborative efforts their agencies play in public safety communications.
Adam Cassady, principal deputy assistant secretary, NITA, encouraged local agencies to communicate with his office in areas of mutual concern. These areas include:
- FirstNet Authority.
- Radio frequency spectrum management, which NITA manages in cooperation with the FCC.
- Enabling Broadband Infrastructure Program grants.
Cassady said his agency is also tasked with helping local agencies supply frontline telecommunicators with cutting-edge Next Generation 9-1-1 technology. “NTIA values its relationship with APCO deeply,” Cassady said. “You’re the people who get the right people to the right place at the right time.”
Following Cassady to the podium was Billy Bob Brown Jr., executive assistant director for emergency communications, CISA. Brown’s agency has a mandate to help protect U.S. infrastructure, including ECCs, from cyberattacks. He invited agencies to take advantage of CISA’s cyberhygiene services, which are outlined at www.cisa.gov/cyber-hygiene-services. These include vulnerability scanning, web application scanning and a video explaining how to strengthen cyber defenses.
CISA mandate to defend against cyberattacks includes those from a nation-state adversary. Brown said cyber defense depends on sharing lessons learned and developing best practices to improve systems. He praised the cybersecurity educational sessions held this week during APCO 2025. “It is just heartwarming to see the leadership.”
FCC Public Safety Bureau Chief Zenji Nakazawa outlined the FCC’s efforts to advance NG9-1-1, improve alert systems with features like silent alerts and location-aware maps, and safeguard critical communications infrastructure from foreign threats. He also highlighted initiatives around hurricane preparedness, cybersecurity, AI threats, and spectrum access for public safety — especially ahead of the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
“I urge APCO and its membership to keep security front and center,” Nakazawa said.
