Edward Parkinson Named Executive Director of First Responder Network Authority

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board announced that Edward Parkinson has been named Executive Director of the organization. Parkinson was named Acting Executive Director for the FirstNet Authority in Oct 2018 and under his leadership, the organization achieved several key milestones to advance the nationwide public safety broadband network, including the release of the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and the first set of investment opportunities for expanding and enhancing the network. Parkinson was one of the first employees to join the FirstNet Authority in 2013, and since then he has served in a variety of leadership positions within the organization, including Executive Director of External Affairs. Prior to joining the FirstNet Authority, he worked on the US House Homeland Security Committee for then-Chairman Peter T. King (R-NY). During his time with the committee, Parkinson drafted the initial bill that began the effort to create FirstNet.