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FirstNet Names New Acting CEO

Edward Parkinson has been named acting CEO of the First Responder Network Authority.

Edward Parkinson has been named acting CEO for FirstNet, the national broadband network for first responders.

Parkinson, who first joined the First Responder Network Authority in 2013, will replace Mike Poth, who resigned in early September. Poth had been with FirstNet since 2015.

“I look forward to working with Ed in his new role. His understanding of the history of the FirstNet project and his leadership roles throughout its maturation make him uniquely qualified to lead the FirstNet organization into its operational phase,” said David Redl, assistant secretary for communications and information at FirstNet, in a statement.

FirstNet Authority's Edward Parkinson named Acting Chief Executive Officer Full release-> https://t.co/qVrpcpBKcv pic.twitter.com/AKGIibzdTt — FirstNet Authority (@FirstNetGov) October 1, 2018
 

FirstNet’s core network launched in March and was developed by AT&T. FirstNet was created by the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attack, which left numerous first responder agencies unable to communicate with each other due to network incompatibility.

Prior to joining FirstNet, Parkinson worked on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, where he drafted the initial legislation that began the work of creating FirstNet. He was then one of the first employees of the FirstNet Authority, serving most recently as executive director of External Affairs, which led outreach efforts in all states and territories.

Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation and other areas. He spent more than 12 years reporting for daily newspapers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and California. He lives in downtown Yreka, Calif.