Ashok K. Agrawala – Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Enginnering, University of Maryland Dr. Agrawala is a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland.  In 2001, he started the Maryland Information and Network Dynamics (MIND) Lab which carries out research and development activities in partnership with the industry. In 2007 He started the MAXWell Lab which is the only WiMAX Forum Applications Lab in the Western Hemisphere. This Lab is dedicated to the study of 4G technologies including WiMAX, and to the development and evaluation of applications for such network. Read more.

Leslie Andresen – Technical Director, Federal Systems and Cyber Security, C4 Systems Leslie Andresen is the Technical Director for the Federal Systems and Cyber Solutions division of General Dynamics C4 Systems, located in Needham, Massachusetts. In that role, she is responsible for advancing technological achievements in national security systems, and determines the direction, technology roadmaps, investments and commercial partnerships required to meet the demands of customers chartered with securing critical military, government and infrastructure networks. Read more

Dominick Arcuri, P.E., PMP, ENP – Senior Vice President, RCC Consultants, Inc. Dominick Arcuri, P.E., PMP, ENP is a Senior Vice President with RCC Consultants, Inc., in charge of Public Safety Communications consulting in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast regions. He advises clients in areas related to two-way radio technology & standards; radio propagation; in-building coverage; broadband data; 800-MHz rebanding; etc. He has been engaged in the management of engineering and product development in communications and defense electronics over a 33-year period with RCC, Ericsson and General Electric Aerospace. Read more.

Jay Barbour – Security Director, BlackBerry Security Group Jay brings more than 12 years of security experience to BlackBerry where he serves as Security Director for the BlackBerry Security Group. He works closely with government agencies, strategic and carrier sales teams and key customers to champion security policy for BlackBerry mobile devices. Prior to joining RIM, Jay was vice president of marketing at Intrusion Inc., a pioneering company in data leak prevention appliances. His previous roles include vice president of product management at ScanSafe (now Cisco), the world’s first managed web security start-up; consultant in the wireless industry; as well as various security product management and marketing roles at 3Com and Hewlett–Packard. He started his career in the energy sector, working for Schlumberger in the Middle East and South America as senior field engineer, as well as ARCO (now BP) as senior planning analyst. Jay holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University, Canada, an MBA from INSEAD, France, and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Jay is based out of Dallas.

Dr. Vanu Bose – CEO, Vanu, Inc. Dr. Bose is CEO of Vanu, Inc. Founded in 1998, Vanu, Inc. pioneered the commercialization of software-defined radio and was the first company to receive FCC certification of a software-defined radio in 2004. The company has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Software-Defined Radio Forum Achievement Award, IEEE Spectrum Magazine’s Wireless Winner, and the GSM Association Technology Award for Most Innovative Infrastructure Product. Dr. Bose has been granted the personal distinctions of being named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and a ComputerWorld? Honors Program Laureate. Dr. Bose is currently serving as a Commissioner to the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, as a member of the Army Science Board, on the Board of Trustees for the Boston Museum of Science, and as a member of the Bernard M. Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program Industry Advisory Board. Dr. Bose was a technical expert for the President’s Council of Advisors (PCAST) report: “Realizing the full potential of government-held spectrum to spur economic growth”. Dr. Bose received his B.S, M.S. and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.

Dr. Kenneth C. Budka – Chief Technology Officer, Alcatel-Lucent’s Strategic Industries Group Dr. Kenneth C. Budka is Chief Technology Officer of Alcatel-Lucent’s Strategic Industries group, a division of Alcatel-Lucent dedicated to the development and deployment of mission-critical communications systems for public safety, energy, transportation and government markets. Dr. Budka led Bell Labs’ R&D effort to support mission-critical public safety wireless communications using commercial broadband technologies technologies. This effort led to a number of events in the ongoing transformation of public safety communications in the U.S. Read more.

Jim Bugel – Vice President, AT&T Public Safety Solutions Jim Bugel is responsible for AT&T’s new Public Safety Solutions group which has recently been formed to focus on the growing public sector IT market place. A vertically integrated business unit, the Public Safety Solutions team develops, manages and brings to market innovative broadband solutions to the public sector that will improve response times, efficiencies and effectiveness. Mr. Bugel has a significant background in public sector and national security activities including Federal policy and strategic planning on public safety, homeland security, cyber security matters and emergency preparedness. Read more.

John Chiaramonte – Lead Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton John Chiaramonte, a Lead Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, is the program manager overseeing the 911 technical and operational support to the National 911 Program for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Mr. Chiaramonte manages the research and analysis, and makes recommendations on 911 and Next Generation 911 (NG911) technical, operational and policy issues. He manages the Blue Ribbon Panel on 911 Funding and 911 Resource Center projects and prior to joining Booz Allen, Mr. Chiaramonte was a senior project manager delivering public safety IT solutions to 911 emergency call centers. For over 20 years, he has been involved with public safety IT projects both as the end-user and a vendor and throughout the entire implementation process. He sits on the Board of Directors for the NG911 Institute and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Emergency Number Professional (ENP).

Cynthia Wenzel Cole – Owner and Founder, Cynergyze Cynthia Wenzel Cole is the owner and founder of Cynergyze, a firm specializing in Public Safety Communications with a focus on interoperability technologies. Cynthia led the technical team which achieved FCC authorization on August 31, 2012 for the initial build-out and operation of the nation’s first 700 MHz Public Safety LTE Network in Harris County, Texas. Cynthia brings over 15 years of experience managing trunked radio technologies, standards, platforms and strategies for one of the nation’s leading system manufacturers. Cynthia holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, RF Design from the University of Michigan. Read more.

Dr. Daniel Devasirvatham – Wi-Plan Wireless Consulting Daniel Devasirvatham (“Dr. D”) is Founder and President of Wi-Plan Wireless Consulting, working on advanced technology and first responder solutions.  Previously, Daniel was CTO of the Advanced Technology Division at SAIC and worked on Broadband and in Land Mobile Radio communications for public safety. He was also the Chief Technologist of the DHS/ICTAP program and participated in P25 standards, first responder support, educational outreach and exercise evaluation.  He was SME and part of the numbering administration for LTE Public Safety Broadband communications trials through the PSST/OAC.  He is participating in US and Canadian technical working groups. Read more.

Charles F. Dowd – Deputy Chief, New York City Police Department Deputy Chief Charles F. Dowd is a 33 year member of the New York City Police Department. For the past eleven years he has been the Commanding Officer of the Department’s Communications Division consisting of more than 1,500 members. He is responsible for the City’s 9-1-1 operation, the nation’s busiest receiving over 12 million calls per year and the N.Y.P.D. police radio operation dispatching 4.5 million radio runs annually. The N.Y.P.D. land mobile radio network has 300 sites, with over 67 voice frequencies, 1,200 receivers, 150 transmitters, and 40,000 radios. Read more.

Mike Ernst – Public Safety 9-1-1 Product Management, AT&T Mike Ernst leads AT&T’s Public Safety 9-1-1 Product Management group, providing solutions in support of critical 9-1-1 communications needs for 9-1-1 Authorities and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). He and his team are directly responsible for AT&T’s strategy and implementation of next generation 9-1-1 Emergency Services IP Networks and next generation call handling solutions. Mike supports field operations, sales, and network teams in delivery of such solutions. Mike has an extensive background in Voice over IP (VoIP) networks and services. He led BellSouth’s Product Development for VoIP services prior to the 2006 merger with AT&T. Mike, an industry veteran of 32 years, has experience in Network Operations & Planning, Change Management, and Service Development & Delivery. Mike holds a Master in Science from Stanford University a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University, both in Electrical Engineering. He is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

John Facella – Senior VP, RCC Consultants John Facella has over 30 years of public safety communications experience, including working for the 2 largest LMR vendors in North America. He is a registered professional engineer, and serves on the communications committees of the Police Chiefs and the Fire Chiefs Associations, and two National Fire Protection Association committees concerned with communications. He also was the CEO of 3 companies involved with information security, was responsible for an international product line of encrypted LMR radios for a major vendor, and was responsible for secure communications during his military service. He is currently a senior VP with RCC Consultants Inc.

Stephen Fletcher – Associate Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Office of Public Safety Communications Stephen Fletcher joined the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in November 2012 as Associate Administrator for the agency’s Office of Public Safety Communications. As head of the newly created office, Mr. Fletcher will oversee the implementation of NTIA’s responsibilities under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and will also support FirstNet, as it requests, with its efforts to deploy and operate a nationwide public safety broadband network. Read more.

Matt Goldfeder – Senior Director, Health & Safety Product Management, American Red Cross Matt Goldfeder has led the team that has developed and implemented new services to help people be prepared for emergencies. Matt and his team have built and launched 5 Smartphone apps since June that put critical information and services at people’s fingertips when they need it most, including the Hurricane app which was recently selected as a 2013 Outstanding Achievement Winner by the National Hurricane Conference. From the First Aid app to most recently launched Tornado app, all of these tools empower people with the knowledge they need at the time they need it. Having this information in people’s pockets when they need it most will save lives and reduce suffering.

Mark Graham – Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Harris Corporation Mission Critical Networks Mark Graham is a member of the prestigious Harris Fellowship of Engineers and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Harris Corporation Mission Critical Networks (MCN). Responsibilities include system design and architecture for Next Generation Networks and Cloud Computing systems. Mark Graham also served as Chief Systems Engineer and Network Architect for Harris Corporation on the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) program. Prior to his work with Harris Corporation, Mr. Graham worked with the Air Traffic Control division of Martin Marietta Corporation supporting the National Airspace System (NAS) modernization program. Mr. Graham has over 25 years of experience in the design and architecture of highly reliable networks and systems required for protecting public safety.

Brett S. Haan – Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP Brett is a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP in charge of Deloitte’s Telecommunications and Public Safety Communications projects and other domestic and international telecommunications engagements.  He has a broad background in the field of telecommunications including more than 25 years experience leading commercial telecom enterprises, working in government agencies, and helping to shape telecom policies in both the United States and Europe. Read more.

Don Hewatt – VP, Solution Engineering, Verizon Terremark Public Sector Don Hewatt has over 18 years of Services experience specializing in infrastructure and Information Security services.  He has constructed and led specialized technical consulting teams where his diverse experience has been instrumental in the creation of many innovative services in the Verizon portfolio.  He is currently in charge of all Solution Engineering for Public Sector opportunities involving IT infrastructure and Security services at Verizon Terremark.  He frequently speaks at both customer, professional organizations and vendor sponsored events and seminars focused on the public sector and its challenges. Don has a Bachelors of Science degree from Georgia Southern University.

Michael W. Jacobs – Chief Engineer, Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services’ Advanced Systems Michael W. Jacobs is Chief Engineer of Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services’ Advanced Systems organization. He is responsible for the design and operation of mission critical communications systems for military and public safety customers worldwide. He is presently leading Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services P25 and LTE system engineering efforts.  His background includes experience with communications and RF systems engineering and antenna design for broadcasting; HF, air-to-ground, and satellite communications; and tactical and land mobile radio. Read more.

Randy Jenkins – Director Business Development Americas, Aviat Networks Randy Jenkins is responsible for managing Aviat Networks’ indirect sales channels and OEM relationships. He has worked for Aviat Networks (formerly Harris Stratex Networks) for over 9 years addressing both US and international markets. His positions have included Director of Business Development and Director of NA Sales.  Previously, Randy held positions at Filtronic Comtek and M/A-COM that included Vice President of Sales, Regional Sales Manager and Business Development Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) degree from the University of Missouri, and his Masters of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University.

Jay Malin, Ph.D. – AGENT511 Jay Malin, Ph.D., is a co-founder of AGENT511 and manages solution architecture for its public safety products. He led the company’s effort to develop and deploy text and multimedia solutions for public safety. He is a frequent speaker at NENA and APCO conferences and leads the company’s standardization efforts. Prior to AGENT511, he managed an International company that developed a VoIP service delivery platform for the broadband service providers. Dr. Malin earned his Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Illinois and MBA at the University of Chicago.

Harlin R. McEwen – Chief of Police (Ret.) Chief McEwen serves as the Chairman of the Communications & TechnologyCommittee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a position hehas held for more than 35 years. He served as a Chief of Police for more than 20years, last serving as Chief in the City of Ithaca, NY. Following his retirement asIthaca Police Chief he served as a Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation with his office located at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. Duringhis tenure at the FBI he provided executive oversight for new FBI Criminal JusticeInformation Services such as the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) 2000Project, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and theLaw Enforcement Online (LEO) system, and traveled extensively throughout theUnited States and internationally meeting with law enforcement groups and speakingat law enforcement and criminal justice conferences. Read more.

Lt. Col. Tom Miller (ret) – Director – Government Markets, North America Customer Solutions, Motorola Solutions In his position as Director of Government Markets for Motorola Solutions, Tom Miller represents the North America Sales and Field Organization with respect to Government Vertical Market expertise.  He leads the North America Customer Solutions Government Vertical Team which provides Go-To-Market and strategic business development support to sales, product, and business unit operations.  He previously served as Director of Public Safety programs for Motorola Solutions.  In this capacity he provided strategic business development support and government relations services for account teams in the United States and Latin America.  This included providing technical assistance to customers in the areas of federal grant programs and project funding; state interoperability plan development; and public safety communications system administration, operation, and governance. Read more.

Greg Najjar – Director, Custom Network Engineering, Sprint Greg Najjar has worked at Sprint for 17 years and serves as Director, Custom Network Engineering in Reston, VA. In this role, he manages a team of engineers and project managers that are focused on deploying 3G and 4G solutions for Sprint’s top Enterprise and Government customers as well as large venues, airports, stadiums and special events such as the NBA All Star Game, Super Bowl, and Presidential Inauguration. Read more.

Patrik Ringqvist – Vice President, Wireless Networks, Ericsson North America Patrik Ringqvist is the Vice President, Wireless Networks for Ericsson North America. Ringqvist has 30+ years of experience in the telecommunications infrastructure industry. He is responsible for Ericsson’s North American direction for expanding and evolving mobile networks in support of public safety. Prior to his current role, Ringqvist has also held positions in sales and product development in the United States and Sweden. He has extensive experience in working with wireless networks, from first-generation analog systems through fourth-generation broadband systems. Ringqvist holds a Master of Science in Engineering Physics from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Jeffrey Robble – Software Systems Engineer, The MITRE Corporation Jeff “Stoker” Robble is a low-level mobile developer, mesh network enthusiast, security researcher, and strong supporter of open source software. He’s worked on projects ranging from web-based enterprise level workflow management systems, to production printing presses, to body area sensor networks, to mobile communications. His thesis was on modeling the visual system of Rhesus monkeys using non-linear AI techniques based on neuronal firing rates within the medial superior temporal region of the primate brain. Annoyed by the artificial limitations imposed on technology by hardware vendors, Jeff enjoys spending his time at the software / hardware interface level, understanding network protocols, and manipulating gadgets to his will. Jeff likes to think that he gets paid to apply modern technologies to solve the world’s problems, such as the loss of network infrastructure and communications during natural (and unnatural) disasters.

Joe Ross – Senior Partner, Televate Joe Ross is a senior partner at Televate, a U.S.-based consultancy specializing in public-safety communications. He has more than 20 years of leadership in public safety and commercial communications solutions including architecting and operating the first two 700 MHz broadband public safety networks. He has chaired multiple working groups for the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Technology Committee and currently serves as co-chair for the T-band Working Group. He is also a member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Broadband Committee. Contact him at ​This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hamlet Sarokhanian – Global Broadband Business Development, Tait Communications Hamlet Sarokhanian has over 30 years of global commercial (3G/LTE) and private radio communication experience working for Motorola, Ericsson, Uniden, and Anritsu before joining Tait in 2009 in New Zealand. He is currently responsible for strategic business development and partnership for Tait’s broadband business. Hamlet has an electrical engineering degree from Oklahoma St, MBA from Duke and also executive certificate in Business strategy & innovation from MIT.

Andrew M. Seybold – CEO and Principal Consultant, Andrew Seybold, Inc. Andrew Seybold has been involved in Public Safety and Public Safety Communications for more than 40 years, starting as a first responder and then working with RCA Mobile Communications, General Electric Communications, Biocom (where he helped develop the first paramedic radio for sending voice and EKG from an incident to a hospital), and Motorola. In 1981, he began his career as a consultant, educator, and writer. For the past four years, Mr. Seybold has been volunteering his time and efforts to the Public Safety community in its quest to build a nationwide, interoperable broadband communications network, and has worked closely with the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, The Public Safety Alliance, the Major City Chiefs Association, APCO, The International Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, and other organizations. Read more.

Douglas Sharp – Director of Engineering, Oceus Networks, Inc Douglas Sharp is the Director of Engineering at Oceus Networks, Inc., a broadband services and solutions provider that empowers government and industry across the globe to deliver high-speed voice, video and data communications. In his role as lead technologist for the Private and Federal Solutions group, he is responsible for advising customers with regard to mobile broadband communication system technology, standards, radio propagation and security. Mr. Sharp has more than 25 years experience in Land Mobile Radio, Cellular and Mobile Broadband communication systems. Prior to joining Oceus Networks in 2012, Mr. Sharp designed and implemented 4G LTE Site Solutions for Ericsson, Inc., was a member of the Systems Engineering team for Ericsson CDMA Systems in Boulder, CO, and a Systems and Design Engineer for Public Safety Trunked Radio Systems with Ericsson Private Radio Systems in Lynchburg, VA.

Brian Slaughter – Director, Global Public Safety Sales,General Dynamics C4 Systems As a sales director for General Dynamics C4 Systems, Slaughter provides subject matter expertise in technology convergence for customers in both public safety and military markets. His 12-year tenure in training, developing and working with end users gives him an objective view of ‘solution-based’ design that supports their individual mission requirements. Slaughter is a former U.S. Army Combat Arms Officer and currently serves as an officer in the Army Reserves. During his career Slaughter was responsible for planning and coordinating unit mission parameters and execution; leading soldiers and developing training and sustaining activities. Read more.

Brad Stoddard – Director, Office of Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Mr. Stoddard holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Colorado Tech and has been with the State of Michigan for 15 years. He has been the Director of Information Technology for the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Michigan Department of Transportation before re-joining Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System once again as the Director in 2008. Read more.

Mohan Tammisetti – Technical Lead LTE Comms, Staff Engineer, Thales Communications, Inc. Principal level Technology & Engineering Strategist, architect, and product manager with more than 18 years of demonstrated excellence driving innovative technology strategies and solutions for global telecom corporations. Specialities: Public safety Comms, LTE, WiMAX, Cellular technologies, Microwave Backhaul, IP Engineering & In-building solutions. Education: MBA Management, MS in Telecommunications Technology (Stratford University), BE – Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communications – Marathwada University, India. Presently working with Thales, researching on Public safety PSBN LTE network architecture and leading engineering solutions & applications.

Adam A. Tolk – CEO GridMeNow, LLC Adam was born in Newport, RI and grew up in Avon, CT.  He attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2000 with a B.S. degree in Economics.  In the Navy, Adam was the Amphibious Operations Officer on the USS Peleliu and led a team of 30 individuals in inserting and extracted the first Marines into Afghanistan after 9-11.  In Adam’s next deployed role he was a Logistics Officer on the USS Belleau Wood where he was responsible for 13 Sailors and $94MM in aircraft parts.  Adam was ranked the #1 Junior Officer at every command assigned, was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal (1) & Achievement Medals (2) for outstanding performance and held a Top Secret Clearance. In 2005, Adam co-founded Yootu.net, a Website Design Agency focused on helping clients execute digital media strategies. Read more.

Marilyn Ward – Executive Director, Founding Governing Board Chair, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council 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. Read more.

Dale “Dr. Z” Zabriskie – Symantec  Corporation As an Evangelist for Symantec Corporation, Dale “Dr. Z” Zabriskie consults with IT professionals across the globe, advising on strategies for securing and managing their information. He is a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), certified in Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), and is known for his ability to relate both technically and conceptually in an authoritative yet entertaining style. In his 12-plus year tenure with Symantec, Mr. Zabriskie has worked with organizations in over forty countries.  Private sector clients include AT&T, Boeing, FedEx, Honeywell, eBay, ING, Shell, BP, and Rio Tinto as well as public sector agencies such as the City of Los Angeles, the Internal Revenue Service, the International Monetary Fund, Saudi Aramco, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Railways of the People’s Republic of China, and the Ministry of the Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has also been a popular moderator and participant in numerous industry panels. His expertise is supported by over thirty years of career experience in information technology, regulatory compliance, research and development, healthcare, manufacturing, and sales with companies such as IBM, SunGard, IKON, Fisher Scientific, and VERITAS.