Commerce Secretary Ross appoints four members to FirstNet Board

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appointed four members to the Board of the First Responder Network Authority on Thursday who have backgrounds in public safety, wireless broadband, and network engineering.

Richard Ross, police commissioner of Philadelphia; David Zolet, CEO of the Logistics Management Institute (LMI); and Robert Osterhaler, a consultant focusing on communications networks and government programs, are new appointees to the board. Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek was re-appointed to serve another three-year term.

“With all 50 states and several territories participating in FirstNet, these appointed board members will leverage their decades of experience in public service and the private sector to ensure FirstNet provides the world-class communications network our emergency responders need,” Ross said. “I applaud them for their willingness to serve on the board to help save lives and keep communities safe.”

The Board of the First Responder Network Authority will continue to oversee AT&T’s efforts to launch FirstNet, the nationwide broadband network for first responders.

“I am pleased to welcome our newest Board members, as well as Sheriff Richard Stanek who is returning for another term,” FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson said. “FirstNet has come a long way, but there is still much work to do. With the addition of these individuals to the Board, we are well positioned for the next phase of FirstNet and the implementation and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network.”