Over the past few months, the SAFECOM Governance Committee meticulously worked to establish a new SAFECOM Executive Committee (EC) governance structure, revise the SAFECOM Charter, and assist in holding SAFECOM leadership elections. Revisions to the SAFECOM Charter were based primarily on the Governance Committee’s recommendations to establish the new SAFECOM EC governance structure, which were approved by the EC in July 2016. The Governance Committee met in August 2016 to review the new EC structure and revise the SAFECOM Charter to align the document with the approved recommendations. The Charter was approved by the EC in September 2016.
In addition to the SAFECOM Chair, Vice Chairs, and current association members, the new EC membership will also include the four SAFECOM Committee Chairs, as well as four At-Large members. The SAFECOM Chair, Vice Chairs, Committee Chairs, and At-Large members will each have a two-year staggered term, to promote continuity of leadership for SAFECOM. The 15 association representatives will not have terms. This year, one SAFECOM Vice Chair was elected to a two-year term and the other to a one-year term to initiate the staggering between the Vice Chairs. Two of the four At-Large members were elected to a two-year term and two to a one-year term to promote staggering. The two At-Large members elected next year will hold a two-year term.
New this year, the entire SAFECOM membership voted for the SAFECOM Chair and Vice Chair, as well as the four At-Large EC members. SAFECOM Chair and Vice Chair nominees are selected from the EC membership, while At-Large members may be nominated by the SAFECOM membership based on various factors (e.g., tenure, new disciplinary representation, leadership qualities, participation). SAFECOM members met in Norman, Oklahoma on October 25, 2016, to elect the SAFECOM Chair and Vice Chairs. Results were:
- SAFECOM Chair: Chief Gerald Reardon, SAFECOM At-Large, City of Cambridge (MA) Fire Department
- SAFECOM Vice Chair (One-Year Term): Chief Doug Aiken, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)
- SAFECOM Vice Chair (Two-Year Term): Mark Grubb, National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC)
In addition, SAFECOM Committee Chairs are elected by the members of that committee for two-year terms, with Governance and Technology Policy Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs elected on even-numbered years, and the Education & Outreach and Funding & Sustainment Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs elected on odd-numbered years. Recent elections were held for the Governance and Technology Policy Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs. Results were:
- Governance Committee Chair: Don Bowers, SAFECOM At-Large, Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue
- Governance Committee Vice Chair: Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
- Technology Policy Committee Chair: Chief Gerald Reardon, SAFECOM At-Large, City of Cambridge (MA) Fire Department
- Technology Policy Committee Vice Chair: Dan Wills, SAFECOM At-Large, Arizona State Forestry
From left to right: Douglas Aiken, SAFECOM Co-Vice Chair, Gerald Reardon, SAFECOM Chair, and Mark Grubb, SAFECOM Co-Vice Chair .
The four At-Large EC members were elected based on past practice and SAFECOM experience. These members represent their elected role with SAFECOM and vote on what they feel is in the best interest of their public safety discipline. In October 2016, the following members were elected to fill the four at-large positions:
- Anthony Catalanotto, SAFECOM At-Large (Fire Department New York) [Two-Year Term]
- Michael Murphy, SAFECOM At-Large (Baker, LA Police Department) [Two-Year Term]
- Jay Kopstein, SAFECOM At-Large (New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services) [One-Year Term]
- Charlie Sasser, National Association of State Technology Directors (NASTD) [One-Year Term]
Also new this year, all associations now have the opportunity to select both a primary and an alternate representative, with at least one association member attending all SAFECOM meetings. Thus, both the primary and alternate members may, but are not required to, attend all meetings.