New FirstNet chair appointed

Chief Richard Carrizzo has been appointed as chair of the First Responder Network Authority (aka FirstNet Authority) board. The announcement was made by US secretary of commerce, Gina Raimondo this week.

According to a statement released by the organisation, chief Carrizzo has been in the fire and emergency service for nearly 40 years. He is currently the fire chief for the Southern Platte Fire Protection District in Missouri. He was appointed to the FirstNet Authority Board in 2018 and has served as vice chair since 2020.

Discussing the appointment, chief Carrizzo said: “I am honored to be named chair of the FirstNet Authority board and thank secretary Raimondo for the appointment. As a first responder myself, I have been so proud to see what the FirstNet Authority has accomplished for our nation’s public safety community.

“[The Authority] has brought the nation’s only public safety broadband network to life in just a few short years. As we look to the future of FirstNet, I am excited to step into this role and work with my colleagues on the board, the FirstNet Authority team, and the public safety community.”