Alexandria, VA — The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announces the recipients of its prestigious 2017 Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards, who will be honored during APCO’s Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership Dinner in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2017.

The Awards Dinner commemorates leaders who have made outstanding contributions to public safety communications.

The award winners are:

Leadership in Advocacy Award
Commander John K. Merrill, USCG (Retired)
Director, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Leadership in Regulatory Service Award
Roberto Mussenden
Attorney-Advisor, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
Federal Communications Commission

Leadership in Legislative Service Award
The Honorable Norma Torres
United States Representative

Leadership in Advancing Communications Policy Award
Jeffrey Johnson
Fire Chief (Retired)
Vice Chairman, First Responder Network Authority
CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association

Award recipients will be recognized by members of the public safety community, government, and industry during the dinner at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington, DC.

“We are proud to recognize this deserving group of individuals for their outstanding contributions to public safety,” said APCO President Cheryl J. Greathouse. “Each has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing public safety communications and we look forward to their future contributions as we work together to improve public safety communications throughout the United States.”

For information about the Awards Dinner, visit leadersdinner.apcointl.org.  A portion of the proceeds from this event goes to the continued support of the Public Safety Foundation of America, which focuses on improving public safety services to our communities.

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. 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.