Speakers 2026

Jared VandenHeuvel is the Director of Public Safety Solutions for the Texas Department of Public Safety. In this role, he develops agency strategy for enterprise law enforcement applications, including situational awareness tools and interoperable communications. His team is also responsible for identifying and piloting promising technology, and fostering partnerships with other government agencies, academia, and industry. In his previous roles at DPS, he has worked as an intelligence analyst and as a coordinator for technology projects such as the public safety broadband network, border sensor networks, and video analysis software. Jared is a US Army veteran and holds a BA degree in Political Science from Arizona State University and a MS degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

Presenting:

• Beyond Boundaries: TAK, Satellites, and the Future of Disaster Response
• Beyond Coverage Maps: Enabling Public Safety Communications in Extreme Locations
• Big Games: Cross-Agency Data Interoperability for Situational Awareness
• Eyes on Kerrville: Building a Unified Operating Picture with Redundant Connectivity
• Towards Nationwide Interoperable Mission Critical Services