(Photo from Ole Miss)
Dr. Damon Darsey of Ridgeland has been appointed to the FirstNet Authority Board of Directors. Darsey is an emergency medicine and EMS Physician and Medical Director for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. He was previously a tenured Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi.
Senator Roger Wicker recommended Dr. Darsey to the Acting Associate Administrator of the Office of Public Safety Communications at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Secretary Gina Raimondo.
According to Senator Wicker’s office, the Board of Directors provides oversight of FirstNet, which is a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network designed to connect first responders across departments for large-scale disasters. The board is also responsible for providing FirstNet with overall policy direction and strategic guidance.
“Dr. Darsey has been a leader in public safety for Mississippi. For years, he has been engaged in the policy, development, technical, and political challenges around deploying a dedicated public safety network. His experience as the Medical Director for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is a valuable asset to the board’s composition. I am confident he will continue to be an advocate for our communities and first responders,” Senator Wicker said in a statement.