APCO International Appoints Derek Poarch as Executive Director
Derek Poarch
October 5, 2011 – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced the appointment today of Derek K. Poarch as executive director.
Poarch comes to APCO International with more than 30 years of public safety experience, and demonstrated leadership in law enforcement and federal telecommunications policy. He served recently as the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where he led a team of professionals responsible for the licensing of all public safety communications networks in the United States and ensuring its reliability in responding to manmade and natural disasters and other homeland security matters for the FCC.
“With the breadth and depth of his background, Derek is well positioned to propel APCO International to greater heights,” said APCO President Gregg Riddle.
“Having worked with Derek when he was at the FCC, while I was serving on the APCO Board, I found him to be the consummate professional and well respected in public safety circles,” said APCO Search Committee Chair and Past President Chris Fischer. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him again.”
Mr. Poarch also served eight years as the Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he led a CALEA accredited department of approximately 300 persons providing police, security, E-911, parking and transportation services to a university community of approximately 45,000 persons.
As Executive Director, Poarch will be responsible for managing all aspects of the association including its employees, its advocacy agenda, the attainment of its strategic plan, its financial well-being and the growth of its activities for the benefit of its members and the public safety communications sector.
“I started out in public safety communications as a telecommunicator and the appointment as Executive Director of APCO provides a unique opportunity to take my career full circle and apply the knowledge, skills and experience from my career to continue to move APCO International’s mission forward.” Poarch said. “I look forward to partnering with the Officers, Board, Executive Council and staff of APCO to assist the women and men who daily serve the citizens of our country by providing first class public safety communications.”
Mr. Poarch assumes his new post on Nov. 14. Mark Cannon will continue to serve as interim executive director in the intervening period.
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APCO International is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
