Brooks Shannon, Director of Emergency Communications Solutions, Esri
Brooks began his career in 9-1-1 over 20 years ago as a software engineer, developing PSAP and mobile mapping applications, geographic information systems (GIS) data management tools, and Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) core services such as the Emergency Call Routing Function (ECRF) and Location Validation Function (LVF). Most recently, he was the Interoperability Program Manager for NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, where he supported various interoperability programs, including the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission's implementation of the PSAP Credentialing Agency and the Forest Guide, providing a foundation for secure, interoperable communications in NG911. At Esri, as Director of Emergency Communications Solutions, Brooks supports the global emergency communications market. This horizontal public safety industry encompasses emergency call-taking (9-1-1, 1-1-2, etc.), dispatching of the appropriate first responders, and routing of emergency resources for the more than 240 million emergency calls that happen in the U.S. alone each year. Because emergency call-taking and dispatch systems are so critical to getting aid to those in need, Brooks is dedicated to helping emergency communications professionals and the Esri partner community understand and apply mapping and spatial analysis to solve complex problems, advance system interoperability, and implement GIS best practices to improve outcomes and make our communities safer.