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Md. fire chief appointed to FirstNet Authority Board

Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha Wolford is one of seven new members supporting the nationwide public safety broadband network

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Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department/Facebook

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

WASHINGTON — Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford is one of 11 leaders from public safety, technology and business sectors appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

“I am pleased to appoint these experienced and highly qualified members to the FirstNet Authority Board to ensure this program continues to enhance public safety response with a world-class communications network,” Secretary Raimondo stated in a press release. “They demonstrate a commitment to the mission and vision of FirstNet and to the safety of our communities. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences, working with the FirstNet Authority CEO, will provide leadership for the public safety broadband network.”

The FirstNet Authority Board includes three permanent seats, held by the U.S. Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, along with 12 additional members appointed by the Department of Commerce.

The Board is responsible for overseeing initiatives that ensure FirstNet Authority, in partnership with AT&T, successfully develops, builds and operates a nationwide public safety broadband network to enhance first responders’ ability to save lives and protect communities.

In addition to her work as a fire chief, Wolford is the fire vice president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and treasurer for the IAFC’s Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Section Executive Board.

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