From the world of press releases, this news: Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner has been elected the new chair for the Executive Committee of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications and Office for Interoperability and Compatibility. Whew!
According to the press release, Werner is a 32-year veteran of the fire service (and Charlottesville chief for two years) who recently received the Virginia Governor’s Award for Excellence, becoming the only person to win the award three times.
As head of the Executive Committee, Werner will be tasked with providing "valuable practitioner expertise and input into Federal interoperability initiatives." Basically, he will guide the committee as it provides state and local perspectives to the federal behemoth he will serve, thereby theoretically creating greater communication so that there will be greater response in times of disaster. Knock on wood.
Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner now can also claim one of the longest titles known to man: chair for the Executive Committee of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications and Office for Interoperability and Compatibility.