A broadband world presents the United States with challenges and opportunities specific to public safety and homeland security. Join Silicon Flatirons for a special Policymakers Series event with Rear Admiral (ret.) James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission.
Admiral Barnett will address public safety policy challenges as they intersect with broadband, including cyber security, interoperability, broadband wireless, Next Generation 911, and emergency alerts. He will also discuss the role of public safety and homeland security communications in the national broadband plan.
Moderated discussion with Admiral Barnett will follow his policy speech. Associate Clinical Professor Brad Bernthal will moderate. Audience questions will be invited. At 10:00 a.m., a networking reception will immediately follow the event.
As Chief of the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Admiral Barnett is responsible for overseeing FCC activities pertaining to public safety, homeland security, emergency management and disaster preparedness, and represents the Commission on these issues before federal, state, and industry organizations. Admiral Barnett served 32 years in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve, retiring in 2008. His last active duty assignments were Deputy Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and Director, Naval Education and Training in the Pentagon. Before coming to the FCC, Admiral Barnett was a Senior Research Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a policy think tank focusing on science and technology issues of importance to the nation, including cyber conflict and cyber security. From 1984 to 2001, Mr. Barnett was a senior partner at Mitchell, McNutt and Sams, P.A. in Tupelo, Mississippi with a governmental law practice representing municipalities, counties, law enforcement agencies, schools and local government officials.