• Producer: Developers or providers of 9-1-1 related products or services.
• User: Those who utilize 9-1-1 related products or services.
• General Interest: Other interested parties who do not fit in the User or Producer category.

Due to the joint nature of the working group, NENA is limited to fifteen (15) Working Group members, and must meet an equal distribution of interest categories, as discussed above.

APCO will be the managing partner of the revision effort, governed by the NENA/APCO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Joint Standards Development Procedures.

If interested in supporting this effort, please complete the form at this link. The deadline to submit is September 15, 2026. Selections will be made within two weeks of the closing date, and all will be notified of their status via email. Selected participants must be willing to sign APCO's Joint WG IPR statement to participate in the working group.
 

NENA’s Board of Directors leads the organization’s more than 26,000 members in advancing NENA’s mission to improve 9-1-1 through research, standards development, training, education, outreach, and advocacy. Through its leadership, the board ensures that the needs of the association and its members are being met today and that NENA is well-positioned for the future. 

As a board member, you will fulfill essential responsibilities outlined in NENA’s bylaws, help guide NENA’s strategic vision, and ensure the association continues to provide the highest level of support and service to its members. This is your opportunity to provide the leadership needed to ensure NENA’s continued growth and success.

This election will be for the following positions:

• Second Vice President
• Northeastern Region Director 
• North Central Region Director
• Canadian Region Director

Qualifications

Public Sector members in good standing shall be eligible for nomination to the office of 2nd Vice President.

Public Sector and Private Sector members in good standing shall be eligible for nomination to the post of Region Director.

Hall of Fame members in good standing may be eligible for nomination as an Officer or Director of this Association consistent with the eligibility of a member in the category to which the Hall of Fame member would otherwise belong, at the time of nomination, had that member not been declared a Hall of Fame member.

Each Officer or Director of the Association at the time of their nomination and throughout all times during their candidacy and term(s) of service, must:

• Maintain membership, in good standing, in the Association;
  
• Maintain certification as an Emergency Number Professional in accordance with the prevailing requirements for that certification;
  
• Discharge, with all due diligence, the duties attendant upon the position they hold;
  
• Comply with all Association policies pertaining to activities of the Association in which they participate;
  
• If serving as a Region Director, reside within the Region represented;
  
• If serving as the Private Sector Director, maintain the status of Private Sector member; and
  
• If serving as an Officer:
  • Maintain full-time employment, as defined by the IRS, in the public sector (i.e., a government or quasi-government agency) for the term of office;
  • Annually, or at the time of any change in employment, sign an affidavit of compliance attesting that they meet this qualification; and
  • Consent to the release, at any time, of any employment, financial, or tax information that may be requested by the Board of Directors in order to validate compliance with this qualification.
• No more than one Officer or Director may be employed by any single agency or company at any one time.

Items of interest found within this revision are updates to the NIOC’s guidance of the Forrest guide; DHS funding of the Interoperability Taskforce; FCC’s report and order regarding delivery of calls via SIP and i3
 
Thank you to the RFP Working Group members for committing their time and expertise to establish this standard.
 

Applicants from agencies and communities of every size are encouraged to apply. Additional consideration will be given to applicants serving counties or comparable jurisdictions with populations below 50,000.

Selected applicants will receive complimentary registration to take the ENP exam during one of the four 2027 examination periods.

Apply online by Friday, September 11. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Friday, October 16.

• Read it.
• Share it with your leadership team.
• Discuss it with your emergency management partners.
• Compare it against your current plans, policies, training, and deployment procedures.
• Identify where your organization is prepared, and where there may still be gaps because TERT works best when relationships, expectations, training, and processes are established before they are needed.

“We are grateful to Reps. Cammack and Torres for their continued leadership on this issue.  We look forward to the day when we can celebrate the passage of this important legislation.”

We’re grateful to our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, volunteers—and especially to all the attendees who took time out of their busy lives to be with us in Columbus. You’re what makes the NENA community so special.

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise more than $90,000 for the newly-launched Brian Fontes Center for Excellence, including our donation-match partner, RapidSOS! You can help us provide even more vital training opportunities to members of our 9-1-1 family by donating here or by texting NENA to 91999.

Congratulations to Jordan Roberts, ENP, of the Santa Barbara County (CA) Regional Fire Communications Center, winner of the NENA 2027 VIP Prize Package raffle! Thank you to everyone who donated to support the Fontes Center and help expand opportunities for 9-1-1 professionals.

Head over to the NENA Facebook page for pictures from the conference – with more being added!

Join us in congratulating our new Board of Directors President, Roxy Van Gundy, ENP, and watch an update from our CEO, John Provenzano.

See videos that celebrate our award winners (Chapter Challenge | Presidential | Hall of Fame | Voice of 9-1-1); recognize our scholarship recipients (Gold Line | McMurray | Women in 9-1-1 | ENP) and acknowledge our newest Partner in Education Recognition (PIER) program certificate recipients.

The conference wasn’t just about great sessions and networking. We also unveiled several exciting new initiatives. Learn more about the NENA Action Council, the Excellence in Leadership Certificate, NENA’s new Strategic Plan, and our new online store on our redesigned nena.org homepage.

And don’t forget: Plan now to join us in Nashville, TN for #NENA2027!

Roxy Van Gundy, ENP, Director of the Lyon County (KS) Emergency Communications Center, has been sworn in as the new President of NENA: The 9-1-1 Association. A veteran emergency communications professional with more than two decades of experience, Van Gundy will guide NENA’s efforts to advance emergency communications through research, standards development, training, education, outreach, and advocacy on behalf of the Association’s more than 26,000 members.

In her address to attendees at the NENA 2026 Conference & Expo in Columbus, Ohio, on July 1, Van Gundy outlined a vision centered on connection, belonging, and ensuring every 9-1-1 professional feels supported at every stage of their career.

“No one in this profession should ever feel like they don’t have a place.”

Drawing on her own career and the experiences of colleagues, Van Gundy reflected on the emotional demands of 9-1-1, particularly in smaller communities, and emphasized that meaningful connection and support are essential to helping professionals navigate those challenges together.

“We have to get better at talking with each other. Really talking. Sharing our stories. Being honest when things are hard.”

Van Gundy said one of her top priorities during the coming year will be visiting 9-1-1 centers, listening to members’ experiences, and ensuring the Association remains responsive to member needs.

"I want to connect with you, not talk at you.”

She also encouraged members to help others find their place in NENA by inviting colleagues to become involved through committees, working groups, training, and member communities, creating more opportunities to find purpose and place.

“Sometimes all it takes is one person saying, ‘Hey, come join us.’ That’s how this grows.”

Closing her remarks, Van Gundy encouraged attendees to carry the relationships they built during the conference back to their home agencies.

“NENA is not just this conference. It’s the relationships you build. The people you can reach out to. The support you have when the job gets heavy.”

Also sworn in on July 1 were seven other members of NENA’s 2026–2027 Board of Directors:

• 1st Vice President: Cassie Lowery, ENP, of Tennessee  
  
• 2nd Vice President: Darlene Pankonie, ENP, of Minnesota
  
• Immediate Past President: Lee Ann Magoski, ENP, of California 
  
• Northeastern Director: Jason Lezcano, ENP, of New Jersey 
  
• Southeastern Director: Raymond Pheris, ENP, of Texas
  
• North Central Director: Leah Hornacek, ENP, of Michigan 
  
• Private Sector Director: Jen Poole, ENP, of Florida 

Two additional Board Members will take the oath of office in the coming weeks:

• Western Director: Andrea King, ENP, of Nevada 
  
• Canadian Director: Holly Barkwell, ENP, of Ontario 
  

Building on the success of NENA’s Excellence in Dispatch Certificate, the Excellence in Leadership Certificate provides a structured pathway for emerging leaders, trainers, supervisors, managers, and directors to develop the knowledge and competencies needed to lead today’s 9-1-1 centers.

Participants earn the certificate by completing two structured sections within a three-year period. The Core Leadership Foundation section includes one of NENA’s comprehensive leadership programs — the Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP), 9-1-1 Center Supervisor Program, or Center Training Officer (CTO) Program.  The Leadership Development and Specialization section includes NENA’s Leadership in the 9-1-1 Center course along with two additional electives focused on key areas of leadership and organizational effectiveness.

The Excellence in Leadership Certificate reflects NENA’s ongoing commitment to investing in both current and emerging leaders. It empowers 9-1-1 professionals to strengthen their skills, advance their careers, and better support their teams.

Learn more about the Excellence in Leadership Certificate program here.

For more than four decades, NENA has been the leading voice for the 9-1-1 community—advancing technology, setting standards, and championing the needs of emergency communications professionals. As the policy landscape surrounding occupational reclassification and Next Generation 9-1-1 continues to evolve, so too must our ability to advocate on your behalf.

We are excited to announce an important development in NENA’s advocacy strategy: the creation of the NENA Action Council, a separate organization designed to amplify our collective voice and influence in public policy. The council was formally launched at the NENA 2026 Conference & Expo with its first-ever member reception.

While NENA will continue its core work in education, standards development, and industry leadership, the NENA Action Council will enable more direct and effective advocacy activities, including: 

• Direct advocacy with Congress, federal agencies, and other policymakers
  
• Building coalitions around public safety priorities
• Supporting political candidates who champion 9-1-1 and first responders. 

In addition to direct advocacy, the NENA Action Council will serve as a vital resource for education and engagement. In partnership with NENA, it will:

• Host advocacy-focused events, including at NENA’s Annual Conference and 9-1-1 Goes to Washington
  
• Support grassroots and grasstops advocacy efforts 
  
• Recognize and celebrate champions of the 9-1-1 system

These activities will help build a stronger, more unified voice for our community.

What This Means for You
Membership in the Action Council is separate from NENA membership, and I encourage you to join for just $10 per year. As a member, you will not only support the Council's activities, but also stay informed on the latest policy developments and Council events.

We believe this is a critical step toward ensuring that the 9-1-1 community remains at the forefront of public safety policy. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to NENA and to the future of 9-1-1.

The Center will provide professional development scholarships and career-building opportunities that support the entire PSAP — from those under the headset to those who lead the agency. By expanding access to training and leadership pathways, the Center will help ensure that PSAPs nationwide are equipped with skilled, prepared, and forward-thinking professionals at every level.

Click here to learn more.

We recognize that the environment in which our members operate continues to evolve, driven by advancing technology, workforce challenges, and increasing demands on the system. The professionals who answer the call every day carry a responsibility that is both critical and deeply human. Their work, and the communities they serve, remain at the forefront of every decision we make.

Together we are shaping the future of 9-1-1, and the direction outlined in this plan reflects where we believe NENA can have the greatest impact. By strengthening the organization, advancing the profession, and championing 9-1-1 through advocacy and engagement we continue raising the bar.

Together we will continue to listen to our members, adapt to emerging challenges, and remain accountable for turning this strategy into meaningful progress. This is a responsibility we take seriously and are proud to carry out on behalf of the 9-1-1 community.

Together we stand with those under the headset and are committed to supporting them and the public who depend on them every day.

Strategic Pillars Overview
NENA’s Board of Directors has identified three strategic pillars that will guide the association’s work through 2028. These pillars reflect where NENA can make the greatest impact: strengthening the organization, advancing the profession, and championing 9-1-1 through advocacy and engagement.

Each pillar is supported by a set of goals that define the outcomes NENA seeks to achieve, providing a clear and focused framework for the association’s work in the years ahead.

Click here to download the NENA 2026-2028 Strategic Plan.

Browse a growing selection of official NENA merchandise, including apparel, drinkware, gifts, accessories, and more. Whether you’re looking for something for yourself, your team, or the 9-1-1 professional in your life, you’ll find quality items that celebrate our community and support the Association.

Click here to visit the NENA Store.

• Standard for Communications Center/PSAP Daily Personnel Operations, NENA-STA-014.2-2025, Revision.
• Public Safety Communications & Railroad Interaction Standard Operating Procedures, NENA-STA-013.3-2025, Revision.
• Virtual PSAP Management Standard, NENA-STA-046.3-2025, New Standard.
• Standard for the Non-Conventional Means of Communicating with E9-1-1, NENA-STA-030.1-2025, New Standard.
• Transition to i3 PSAP Standard, NENA-STA-049.1-2025, New Standard.
• E9-1-1 PSAP Equipment Standards, NENA-STA-027.3.1-2025, Revision.
• PSAP Master Clock Standard, NENA-STA-026.5-2026, Reaffirmation.
• Standard for NG9-1-1 GIS Data Model, NENA-STA-006.3-2026, Revision.

If you haven’t had a chance to review the documents yet, we encourage you to take a moment to look them over. Please reach out to the Committee Resource Management (CRM) team with any questions.

The newly revised guidelines elevate the recommendations regarding minimum training and address changes in the 9-1-1 industry. The updated guidelines were developed by a multi-agency working group that collaborated over the last three years to provide a consistent baseline for telecommunicator training across the United States. 

The minimum training framework outlines several core categories, including Roles and Responsibilities, Legal Concepts, Interpersonal Communications, Emergency Communications Technology, Call Processing, Emergency Management, Radio Communication, Stress Management, Quality Assurance, and On-The-Job Training.

Although the training is not federally mandated, it is collaboratively developed by subject matter experts and serves as a foundation for professional development. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National 911 Program convened the appropriate stakeholders to provide a forum for discussion. National, regional, and state 9-1-1 organizations and agencies were involved in creating the guidelines, contributing diverse voices and perspectives. This revised guideline reflects the participants’ expertise and is supported by all participating entities.

For more details, visit nena.org/trainingguidelines. 

Over the past several months, NENA has worked closely with CTIA and the three major nationwide wireless carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) to secure an interim fix that will allow telecommunicators to receive the full international telephone number when a 9‑1‑1 call is placed from an international device.

For non‑NANP countries, these calls are delivered to 9‑1‑1 as non‑service‑initialized (NSI) calls, and the telephone number does not appear in ANI, as it does for domestic and NANP-conformant countries. To address this, we collaborated with CTIA, which helped bring the carriers together to agree on using the Customer Name (NAM) field to display the full E.164 international telephone number. This will appear in your call handling software under the Customer Name/NAM field as “CBN+number” including the country code of the caller. This is an interim solution until PSAPs deploy Phase 2 NG9‑1‑1. Typically, the wireless carrier’s name appears in that field.

The carriers have invested significant effort over the last six months to implement this change. AT&T and Verizon began deployment this week, and T‑Mobile will begin within the next two weeks. Broad availability is expected by June, just in time for the FIFA World Cup.

Thank you to CTIA, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon for working with us on this critical public safety issue!

Download the revised International Wireless Calls to 9-1-1 paper here.

A new international calling fact sheet is available here.

Key Updates & New Insights

• Carrier Change: International Callback Number Delivery (NEW)
  • Nationwide U.S. wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) are deploying a near-term solution:
    • The full international callback number (E.164) will appear in the NAM (Name) field in ALI.
  • Timeline:
    • AT&T and Verizon: began deploying the week of May 11, 2026
    • T-Mobile: within a few weeks after
    • Broad availability expected by June 2026

Operational Impact

• PSTs must shift workflow:
  • International calls may be delivered to 9-1-1 as NSI
  • Do not rely on ANI for the international 9-1-1 call callback number
  • Check the NAM field in ALI for the full international telephone number. It will present as “CBN + callback number.”
• This is a significant interim improvement, but it only works if valid roaming agreements exist between the roamer’s carrier and the U.S. wireless carrier.

Clarified Reality: Text-to-9-1-1 Will Not Work for International Devices

• Text-to-9-1-1 was not designed to work with international SIMs.
• Voice must be treated as the only reliable communication method for international callers.
• Public messaging must clearly state:
  • “Do not text 9-1-1 from an international phone.”

New Public Safety Recommendation for Visitors

• Added guidance:
  • Visitors should connect to a U.S. network immediately upon arrival, even if they turn off roaming later, to prepare their phones for a potential future emergency.
• Why does this matter?
  • Reduces:
    • Call setup delays
    • Initial call failures
  • Improves the likelihood of successful emergency call routing.

The standard will include background and education on TPSP and ECC roles and responsibilities in the public safety ecosystem.

The Working Group approved CHARTER can be found here for a more detailed overview of this work effort.

A variety of expertise is sought from the public safety, 9-1-1, and third-party service provider communities to include those with experience in both 9-1-1 and TPSP operations, training, technology, and related areas.  

As a voting member, one is expected to participate actively in the working group's efforts and to vote, when needed, to support the document's progress.

The Working Group is scheduled to meet every Thursday from 14:00-15:00 ET, with the first working group meeting expected to start on May 28, 2026. If you are interested in supporting the efforts, please click HERE to join the PSAP Operations Third Party Service Provider Working Group.