Episode 125: Evaluating the Evolving Landscapes to Support First Responder Operations with Dan Cotter | Interschutz 2022 Mini Series

Why hasn't more research looked at threats from the first responder's point of view?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

This is the second episode of our Interschutz 2022 Mini Series. Interschutz 2022 was an international trade show hosted over six days and included exhibitions plus engaging forums covering the various aspects of firefighting, rescue services, civil protection and safety and security.

In this episode:

- What are the evolving threats that first responders encounter?

- Why is it essential to research the risks before introducing a solution?

- How can we evaluate the veracity of the data to avoid cyber threats?

SFF got to chat with Dan Cotter, the Executive Director of the Office of Science and Engineering (OSE) in the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). His responsibilities include overseeing seven technology centers, research requirements, development, standards, systems engineering, test and evaluation, technology scouting and transition planning, plus supporting DHS research and acquisition programs.

His prior experience includes roles as the DHS Chief Technology Officer, Geospatial Management Officer, and as Senior Technical Advisor at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Dan has a background in applying emerging technologies to address a wide range of scientific, engineering and technical challenges faced by the National Flood Insurance Program and disaster mitigation, and response and recovery. He also has over a decade of leadership experience in the private sector.

Dan's career has been dedicated to developing affordable solutions for first responders by working with the international first responder community to define common capability gaps and to collaborate on R&D that would make first responders worldwide safer, more effective, and more efficient at their jobs. At the trade show, Dan and his team demonstrated new testbed technologies, including smart building sensors for detecting fire ignition and environmental threats in large venues.

Connect with DHS: LinkedIn

Episode Resources:

- Executive Gov Article: DHS S&T Demos First Responder Innovations at Interschutz 2022

- National Information Exchange Model (NIEM.gov)

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Head to www.smartfirefighting.com to discover how SFF accelerates innovation for emergency responders, to find out when our next event is or review our curated resources!

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