2027 Speakers
Kevin Hicks, 911 Director, Grant County Central Dispatch
Kevin Hicks is a public safety professional with more than 29 years of experience serving his community as a first responder and 911 communications professional. His career in public safety began in 1997 as a volunteer firefighter, and for more than 22 years, he has dedicated himself to emergency communications and the critical role 911 dispatchers play in protecting lives and supporting first responders. For the past five years, Kevin has served as the Director of Grant County Central Dispatch in Grant County, Indiana, where he oversees the county's consolidated emergency communications center and works closely with law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety partners. Kevin also brings 12 years of information technology experience to his role, which played a vital part in the planning, development, and creation of Grant County Central Dispatch. This combination of public safety, emergency communications, and IT experience has provided him with a unique understanding of the technology and infrastructure necessary to support a modern 911 communications center. Under his leadership, Grant County Central Dispatch continues to focus on operational excellence, interoperability, professional development, and providing reliable, accurate, and efficient emergency communications. Kevin's experience extends beyond the communications center. As a career-long first responder, he brings a unique perspective to emergency communications by understanding both sides of the radio—the dispatcher coordinating the response and the responder relying on accurate information in the field. His background includes service as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, further strengthening his understanding of the challenges faced by responders during critical incidents. Passionate about public safety communications and the people who make the 911 system work, Kevin is committed to strengthening the connection between dispatch centers and field responders, improving communications technology and practices, and advocating for the vital role of emergency communications professionals in the public safety community.