NENA's award-winning, 25th annual 9-1-1 Goes to Washington (#NENAGTW), taking place February 21-24, 2027, brings you and more than 400 of your fellow 9-1-1 professionals together with government leaders in our nation's capital to address today's most pressing 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. #NENAGTW is the only event where you learn about the policy challenges facing 9-1-1 and then take immediate action to address them through dialogue with your elected and appointed officials.

Register now and book your hotel here.

In 2027, a new Congress will mean a new opportunity to make 9-1-1 a priority. The opening months of the 120th Congress will bring new agendas and fresh momentum, making this a crucial time to help shape legislation from the beginning. #NENAGTW puts you in Washington at the right time, early in that process, to help new and returning lawmakers understand what’s at stake for 9-1-1, from reclassifying telecommunicators as public safety personnel to securing federal funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 deployment.

Register by November 13 to take advantage of Saver rates!

Your experience brings these issues to life, and your voice can help turn them into action. #NENAGTW offers you a significant opportunity to shape the nation’s emergency-communications policy agenda and be the voice of 9-1-1 on Capitol Hill. Join your colleagues in taking an active role in educating policymakers and shaping the laws and rules of tomorrow. A day of intensive training and education will prepare and equip you for two days of productive meetings on the Hill. As a participant in #NENAGTW, you will receive:

• The inside information you need to help shape the 9-1-1 and emergency communications agendas for the Administration and Congress;
• Critical knowledge of federal 9-1-1, homeland security, and emergency communications legislation and regulatory activities; and
• Advanced advocacy training to prepare you to speak directly with members of Congress, administration officials, and key staff to make your voice heard on behalf of the entire 9-1-1 community.

Join NENA in Washington for an unforgettable opportunity to connect with your fellow 9-1-1 professionals and champion our shared mission of saving lives through policy change and advocacy.

Register now and book your hotel here.

• Give a deserving recipient the opportunity to attend 9-1-1 Goes to Washington for the first time;
• Support women as they build their careers; and
• Make professional development more affordable for 9-1-1 professionals and their agencies.

Who should apply?
This scholarship opportunity is open to women in the 9-1-1 industry who have not previously attended 9-1-1 Goes to Washington. 

The scholarship recipient will receive:

• Complimentary registration to NENA's 9-1-1 Goes to Washington conference;
  
• Four nights of hotel accommodations; and
• A travel stipend of up to $1,500 to help cover transportation costs to and from the event (provided as a post-event reimbursement against actual, incurred expenses).

Eligibility
To be eligible for the scholarship you must meet the criteria listed above in the "Who should apply" section and complete and submit the scholarship application, including a 1,000 word or less essay and a current resume.  

Deadlines
Applications will be accepted through November 18, 2026. The scholarship winner will be notified no later than December 15, 2026.  

Click here to apply.

Today, Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Kat Cammack (R-FL) opened a process to allow other members of Congress to join a Dear Colleague letter they co-authored asking Speaker Johnson to bring S.725, the Enhancing First Response Act, to the House floor for immediate consideration.

This is a significant development in our long struggle for telecommunicator reclassification. A letter such as this – signed by dozens of House offices – would demonstrate to House leadership that this bill enjoys strong bipartisan support and should be voted on immediately. 

At this time, NENA is calling upon our membership to contact their members of Congress and urge them to sign on to this Dear Colleague letter. Time is of the essence since S.725 will expire at the end of this Congress.

Please contact your member of Congress today and urge them to join Reps. Torres and Cammack in our efforts for an immediate vote on S.725.

• Page 22, Line 761: correct muse to most
• Page 51, Line 905: correct Maine to main
• If the correction is within a table, provide the table name and page number of error and specific details of change.

 
  
All comments are due by December 14, 2026. You may contact the NENA Committee Resource Management Team with any questions or concerns.

• Page 22, Line 761: correct muse to most
• Page 51, Line 905: correct Maine to main
• If the correction is within a table, provide the table name and page number of error and specific details of change.

All comments are due by November 30, 2026. You may contact the NENA Committee Resource Management Team with any questions or concerns.

The best conference sessions start conversations, solve problems, challenge old ways of thinking, and give attendees something they can take home and put to work. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or have never spoken at a NENA conference, your knowledge and experience can help move our profession forward.

New Process & Important Changes

•  Even if you’ve submitted before, please review this year’s instructions carefully. A few things to know before you begin:
• Breakout sessions will be 50 minutes, rather than 60. Plan your content and audience interaction accordingly.
  
• Educational sessions begin Sunday afternoon. Your session may be scheduled Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
  
• Your full presentation team must be confirmed. All presenters, co-presenters, and panelists must be identified and have agreed to participate before submission.
  
• Confirm your ability to attend, including any necessary employer approval and funding for registration and travel.
  
• Submit a complete, accurate proposal with clear learning objectives and practical value for attendees. Educational content must be vendor-neutral, not promotional.
  

The submission portal includes additional details about session tracks, proposal limits, and other requirements.

Submissions are due by Friday, November 6.

Bring your lessons learned, fresh ideas, successful programs, and conversations our profession needs to have. We look forward to seeing what you bring to NENA 2027!

Click here to learn more and submit your session proposal.

PKI is a critical component for establishing trusted and secure communications among Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems, services, and participating organizations. PKI provides the framework of roles, policies, processes, and technologies used to issue, manage, validate, use, and revoke digital certificates. These certificates provide a mechanism for verifying the identities of NG9-1-1 entities and supporting secure communication among systems.

The updated Certificate Policy (CP), developed in conjunction with the NENA Core Services Committee, establishes the requirements, practices, and standards governing the issuance and management of digital certificates within the NG9-1-1 PKI. The revised policy provides greater clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of Certification Authorities (CAs) and other PKI participants and supports consistent implementation across the NG9-1-1 ecosystem.

The updated Certificate Policy is available here.

“The revised Certificate Policy represents an important step in strengthening the common trust framework needed across the NG9-1-1 ecosystem. By providing clearer requirements and responsibilities for participants, the policy supports consistent implementation of the NG9-1-1 PKI and helps establish the trusted communications necessary for systems and services to interoperate across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries,” said Steve McMurrer, Chair of the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission.

Establishing Trust Across NG9-1-1
The NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) provides a common framework that allows NG9-1-1 systems and services to verify the identities of those they communicate with. At the foundation of this framework is the PCA Root Certification Authority, which establishes a common source of trust throughout the NG9-1-1 environment.

Digital certificates serve as trusted credentials that allow systems and services to verify one another’s identity. By using a shared trust framework, participating systems can establish trust even when operated by different organizations, jurisdictions, or Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInets).

This common framework supports secure communications and interoperability across organizational and ESInet boundaries. The NG9-1-1 PKI also supports the certificate-based authentication and security requirements established in applicable NENA NG9-1-1 standards.
Additional information regarding NG9-1-1 architecture and security requirements is available in the NENA i3 Standard for Next Generation 9-1-1 and NENA’s Security for Next Generation 9-1-1 Standard.

About the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission
The NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission (NIOC) is the independent governance and oversight body responsible for services supporting interoperability and security within the NG9-1-1 environment, including the NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure and Forest Guide.

Through independent governance, policy development, and oversight, NIOC works to support a common framework for trusted, secure, and interoperable communications across NG9-1-1 systems and jurisdictions.

Additional information about NIOC is available at ng911ioc.org.

• PSAP/ECC operations to include telecommunicators, supervisors, and administration
• Originating Service Provider (OSP) technical
• NG9-1-1 technologies
• applications providers and related areas

• 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.

• PSAP/ECC Operations such as telecommunicators, supervisors, managers, and administration
• Occupational wellbeing, stress management, and overall wellness
• Occupational wellness applications and technology

• 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.

Second Vice President | Six Candidates 

• Heather Butler, ENP
  
• Spencer Harrison, ENP
  
• Jeanie Pharis, ENP
  
• Aerica Ramos, ENP
  
• Laramie Scott, ENP
  
• Teresa Thompson, ENP

Northeastern Region Director | One Candidate

• Dru Clarke, ENP
  

North Central Region Director | Three Candidates  

• Cory Lynch, ENP
  
• Brian MacMurdo, ENP
  
• Renee Tomlinson, ENP
  

Canadian Region Director | Three Candidates 

• Stacey Cann, ENP
  
• Kate Pataran, ENP
  
• Ivan Rincon, ENP
  

The positions of Southeastern Region Director, Western Region Director, and Private Sector Director will be up for election in 2028.

Contact the Elections Committee with any questions about the nomination process, eligibility requirements, or general election details.

Join us in New Orleans from January 18–21, 2027, for #NENASBP, the one-of-a-kind conference where your experience drives the discussion!

Whether you’re answering calls, leading a team, or implementing new technology, you have something to contribute and fresh insights to discover. This interactive, attendee-powered event connects you with peers and subject matter experts to tackle tough questions, exchange ideas, and help advance the standards and best practices shaping 9-1-1’s future.

From AI and next-generation CAD to call processing and workforce wellness, you’ll explore what’s driving change in 9-1-1. 

Bring your experience and share your perspective. At #NENASBP, you'll shape what's next for 9-1-1 and take home ideas you can put to work.

Register by October 14 to take advantage of Saver rates! Click here to book your hotel and here to learn more.

At NENA, our standards development motto is “a call is a call is a call” – meaning that an emergency call should be treated the same regardless of access technology or communications modality. Now is the time for the Commission to engage with modern realities that reflect the standards-based framework for Next-Generation 9-1-1 and how people communicate today. 

NENA looks forward to contributing the expertise and perspectives of the 9-1-1 community throughout this important proceeding.

• Data Analysts
• Data Scientists
• Data Managers
• Operations Managers
• IT Security Professionals
• Governance Professionals
• Executive staff

For many PSAPs, quality assurance still follows the same model: a supervisor pulls a few calls, evaluates them using a form, and shares feedback weeks later. The sample is small, the review is subjective, and the lesson arrives long after it could have mattered. 

A new model is here, one where every call is reviewed as it happens and feedback is provided while calls are still fresh. With a holistic view of the center, supervisors gain a broader view of performance, deliver individualized or team-wide feedback the same day, and track whether changes are helping. 

Attend this webinar for a look at where QA is headed in the PSAP, and what it takes to get there. 

Presenters: Jamie Hudson – Aurelian | James Lake, ENP – Lake 911 Consulting

Can't attend live? Register now and receive an email after the live broadcast with a link to the on-demand replay.

Webinar Access Info: Link provided automatically via email upon registration.

Questions? Contact the NENA Education team.

By registering for this webinar, you agree to have your contact information shared with the sponsor. The views expressed during this webinar are those of the sponsor and not necessarily those of NENA. NENA does not endorse any proprietary product or solution. Contact Katie Decker, ENP for more information on how your company can participate in NENA’s Spotlight Webinar program.

“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.