2027 Speakers

Chris Essid is a nationally recognized leader in public safety communications, emergency preparedness, and interoperability, with more than 30 years of experience shaping state and federal policy, strengthening public-private partnerships, and advancing national emergency communications capabilities.
A former senior executive with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Chris served as the inaugural Director of the DHS Office of Emergency Communications and Deputy Director of CISA's Emergency Communications Division.
Throughout his career, Chris helped establish many of the foundational programs guiding interoperability and emergency communications nationwide, including the first National Emergency Communications Plan, standing up the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center, and creating the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators. Chris implemented common grant guidance across all federal grant programs, which resulted in hundreds of millions in state and local investments which improved public safety communication capabilities.
Before his federal service, Chris was the nation's first Statewide Interoperability Coordinator in Virginia, where he pioneered stakeholder driven governance and planning approaches that helped shape interoperability programs across fifty states. Prior to this, Chris served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Military Police and worked as a civilian for the U. S. Marine Corps.
A recipient of national awards from APCO International and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, Chris is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow.
Today, Chris leads Resilient Technology Solutions Group, drawing on decades of experience to help government and industry strengthen communications, coordination, and resilience.

Presenting:

• To Encrypt or Not To Encrypt Your Radio Comms