Anaheim, CA | September 20, 2018
| Jeffrey Cohen Chief Counsel and Director of Government Relations APCO International |
 Jeffrey Cohen is Chief Counsel and Director of Government Relations at APCO International. In this capacity, Jeff provides strategic guidance on policy, legislative, and regulatory matters to advance the association’s work on 9-1-1 and first responder communications.
Prior to joining APCO, Jeff served as a detailee from the Federal Communications Commission, for the minority staff of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. While on the Hill, Jeff was one of the authors of the FirstNet public safety legislation enacted in February 2012. At the FCC, Jeff served as Senior Legal Counsel to the Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Before his move to the federal government, Jeff was a partner at the Washington, DC telecommunications law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, where he worked over ten years on wireless regulatory matters since graduating from the George Washington University Law School with honors in 1994. Jeff also holds a B.S. cum laude in electrical engineering from the George Washington University. Jeff is a recipient of the FCC’s Silver Medal Award, APCO’s Leadership in Regulatory Service Award and the National Emergency Number Association’s Presidential Award. |
| Gerald “Jay” English Chief Technology Officer APCO International |
 Jay has over 30 years of Public Safety and technology experience. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and United States Marine Corps, having served in airborne Electronic Warfare and Intelligence billets. Jay has served in a number of police, fire, EMS and public safety communications leadership positions. His experience includes patrol, investigations, and command of three consolidated 911 communications centers, law Enforcement patrol divisions, and a county detention facility. In addition to his public safety service, Jay is an active member of the US Air Force Auxiliary / Civil Air Patrol, holding the rank of Lt Colonel, and currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the National Capital Wing in Washington, D.C.
Jay was APCOs Director of Communications Center and 9-1-1 Services for four years. During that time, he served as the Chair of the Cybersecurity Working Group for the FCC Task Force on Optimal PSAP Architecture (TFOPA), wrote numerous articles for national publications, authored a chapter for a college text on public safety communications, and served on several national cybersecurity committees. Jay was selected as one of the “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers” in government by Government Technology magazine for 2017. Prior to returning to APCO, Jay was the Public Safety Program Manager for the US Department of Homeland Security, National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center. During his time at DHS he supported numerous cybersecurity response efforts to public safety related incidents. He was also deployed in support of emergency communications recovery efforts to both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Maria impacted areas. After his tour at DHS, Jay returned to APCO to take on the role of Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he will lead all APCO technical efforts related to Next Generation 9-1-1, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. He will be further responsible for implementing strategies stemming from APCO’s recent Project 43: Broadband Implications for the PSAP and developing new strategies related to all APCO technical services. |