The First Responders Group Division (FRG), within the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is excited to be part of APCO 2017!
FRG provides first responders the edge to succeed during this age of rapid advances in technology! Through industry and academic partnerships, S&T develops and deploys tech solutions to address day-to-day and large scale emergencies. The FRG team challenges you to think differently about the role technology plays with enhancing capabilities to drive operational efficiencies, improve decision-making, and save lives. If you are at APCO, come meet FRG team members to learn how S&T is investing in technologies to prepare your organization for our increasingly complex future.
Visit FRG’s Exhibit Booth #1729, August 14-15, to also learn how FRG is investing in communications resilience and get a demo from our Next Generation First Responder communications and modeling and simulation programs. For more, download the "Welcome to DHS Science & Technology First Responders Group" APCO Booklet.
If you are at APCO, don’t miss our interactive presentations:
Title: Got Comms? Recognizing and Mitigating Intentional and Unintentional Interference
- Date: 8/14/2017
- Time: 2– 3:00 PM
- Location: Convention Center - Rooms: 503/504
- Track: Radio Technologies, Land Mobile Radio and Spectrum Management
- Speakers: Sridhar Kowdley, FRG Program Manager, will lead an engaging discussion on recognizing and mitigating intentional and unintentional communications interference. Kowdley will be joined by Brandon Smith, Telecommunications Specialist for DHS NPPD, Rodney Reed, Assistant Chief of Operational Support for the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office in Houston, TX, and Ron Polluconi, Technical Services Manager for Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency in Washington County, OR.
Hear where FRG is investing in R&D and how you can play a role in developing solutions to help public safety organizations identify, locate and mitigate the impact of jamming. Together we can make our nation's first responders more protected, connected, and fully aware!
Title: Rewriting the Rules: Innovating the Next Generation First Responder
- Track: Cutting Edge Issues and Hot Topics
- Location: Convention Center - Rooms: 501/502
- Time: 9 – 10:00 AM
- Date: 8/16/2017
- Speakers: John Merrill, Director, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, FRG and Cuong Luu, FRG Program Manager, will co-lead a lively discussion on what FRG’s Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Program is doing to empower rural first responders to address their agencies’ capability gaps. For industry innovators, the discussion will highlight the importance of considering first responder operational requirements at the onset of innovation cycles. In addition, hear how common data standards and interfaces promote an open, plug-and-play system that provides force-multiplying solutions. If you’re interested in helping NGFR rewrite the rules of how public safety technologies are integrated to provide relevant, cost effective and life-saving capabilities, this session is for you. They will be joined by Dr. Ed Chow, Acting Manager of the Civil Program Office for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Eileen Smith, Director of E2i Creative Studio, Institute for Simulation & Training at the University of Florida.
Title: Second General Business Session
- Date: 8/15/2017
- Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Location: Convention Center – Four Seasons Ballroom 1-2
- Speaker: John Merrill, Director, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, FRG
Also, don’t miss an opportunity to participate in our P25 Compliance Assessment Program Advisory Panel (AP).
- Date: 8/16/2017
- Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Location: Convention Center - Rooms 111/113
- Attendees: P25 CAP AP members, industry, public safety, interested APCO conference attendees
- Topics: Compliant and Non-Compliant Equipment Lists, status of P25 CAP Approved Laboratories, P25 CAP testing timelines for posting of Compliant Equipment
- There will be a conference bridge available. Agenda and logistical information (i.e., conference bridge) will be available on https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/advisory-panel.
