By Carl Rebstock, FirstNet National Tribal Government Liaison
I am pleased and honored to announce that we have hired two accomplished tribal members as full-time regional tribal government liaisons: Margaret Muhr and Adam Geisler. In addition to their impressive professional achievements, both Margaret and Adam arrive with a good understanding of the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet) importance to Indian Country, having served as delegates on our Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) Tribal Working Group, representing the International Association of Emergency Managers tribal caucus and Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, respectively.
Margaret is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (Oklahoma) and formerly the director of emergency services for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (California). She is also the first Native American graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security program and was an instructor for FEMA's Emergency Management Institute tribal curriculum. At FirstNet, Margaret will be the principal point of contact for tribes in FirstNet/FEMA regions I-VIII.
You may reach her at margaret.muhr@firstnet.gov or via her mobile phone number: +1 202-738-8344.
Adam is an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians (California) and has served in a number of leadership roles with the tribe–including as elected tribal council secretary, vice chairman of the Inter-Tribal Long-Term Recovery Foundation, and is contributor and Vice President for “The Red Guide to Recovery.” Adam has been in his elected office for the past seven years and has led his tribe through three federally declared disasters. At FirstNet, Adam will be the principal point of contact for tribes in FirstNet/FEMA regions IX and X.
You may reach him at adam.geisler@firstnet.gov or via his mobile number: +1 202-631-1188.
Informing and involving Indian Country is vital to the successful deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) and a key component of User Advocacy’s coordination with state single points of contact. In fact, Margaret and Adam have hit the ground running by participating in Oklahoma’s initial state consultation meeting last week and attending the USDA’s Choctaw Nation Promise Zone and BIA’s Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Workshops this week.
Please join me in welcoming two all-stars to our team and look for a forthcoming blog from the two of them as we observe National Native American Heritage Month this November.
Onwards and upwards!
-Carl
