Speakers 2026
Jeff Perkins, Public Safety Communications Specialist, Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management
Jeff Perkins is a seasoned public safety professional with a diverse background in emergency management, communications, and operations. Over the course of his career, he has worked at both the local and state levels, supporting communities through planning, preparedness, and incident response. His experience includes developing and evaluating emergency communication strategies, strengthening interoperable systems for first responders, and coordinating resources to ensure operational readiness during both planned events and large-scale emergencies. In addition to his work in civilian public safety, Jeff has more than a decade of military service, where he has gained valuable leadership skills and operational perspective. His combined experience in dispatch, emergency operations, and incident communications has provided him with a unique understanding of the challenges faced by responders on the ground and the importance of building reliable systems to support them. Jeff is committed to advancing interoperability, fostering collaboration across agencies, and ensuring that communities are better prepared to respond to emergencies of any scale.