Longtime APCO member Donna Bird passed away after 48 years of distinguished service to Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC), helping to shape both the foundation and future of 9-1-1 in the county.
In 1975 she became a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Services fire public safety communicator in the emergency operations center (EOC) and later an employee of the Fairfax County Police Department.
By 1985, Donna advanced to communications operations supervisor and later was promoted to serve as the first civilian CAD system manager and geographic information systems (GIS) manager. She helped oversee the implementation of Fairfax County’s first CAD system for police, fire and 9-1-1 — a major advancement in public safety technology. Donna helped lead the drive to integrate, strengthen, modernize and expand unified emergency communications across the county and regionally.
Her contributions extended well beyond daily operations. Early on, Donna developed and coordinated the county’s first alternate 9-1-1 facility at the Bell Atlantic Annandale central office. Donna worked closely with public safety agency leadership to develop budgets, five-year strategic plans, and the capital plan that brought the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center (MPSTOC) to life. She also successfully managed the relocation of all DPSC call-taking and dispatch operations within the Pine Ridge facility during a major renovation project, ensuring uninterrupted emergency communications services.
Donna served as a key subject matter expert on the Pine Ridge facility, acting as the primary liaison with Fairfax County’s facilities management department, the information technology department, county engineering and the police department. She frequently led continuity of operations exercises, including a full three-day real-world activation when a power outage forced emergency operations to relocate. She led internal exercises to ensure the resilience of CAD, phone and radio systems, and played a critical role as DPSC’s Y2K response leader, developing agencywide contingency plans and coordinating with other county agencies to ensure a seamless transition into the new millennium.
In 2005, Donna was instrumental in helping to guide the transition of PSCC, as a section under the police department, to a newly formed independent county agency, the Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC).
As operations transitioned to MPSTOC, Donna continued to serve in critical roles, managing special projects, and overseeing budgets and assets. She led the project to establish the Pine Ridge facility as the county’s next alternate 9-1-1 communications center and was responsible for ensuring operational readiness.
Even after five decades of service, Donna remained fully committed to the future — actively working on the development of a new regional backup 9-1-1 center as her final project, continuing her lifelong mission to support the women and men of 9-1-1.
Donna was a longtime member of APCO International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), proudly contributing her time and knowledge over her 48 years in the industry.
Donna’s tireless devotion, pioneering leadership and steadfast spirit set the standard for excellence in public safety communications. Her contributions will be remembered, and they will continue to save lives for decades to come. She will be deeply missed.
—Adapted from a tribute by Scott L. Brillman, director of 9-1-1, Fairfax County, Virginia, Department of Public Safety Communications.
