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Where Industry Leaders Come Together

The Texas A&M University ITEC Interoperability Institute is a platform where industry leaders come together to address challenges in first responder communication. ITEC hosts workshops, exercises, and technology demonstrations to enhance emergency response effectiveness.
The conference will be held from April 7 to April 11, 2025, at the Texas A&M Conference Center in College Station, TX.
Attendees can learn about cutting-edge advancements in first responder technologies, connect with professionals in the field, showcase their commitment to innovation, and contribute to shaping the future of first responder communication.

Our Objectives

Examine interoperability capabilities and requirements during a multi-jurisdictional event, covering cyber-security, physical convergence, hazmat incidents, terrorist bombings, and telecommunications system failures.

Themes

· Emergency Planning & Preparedness

· Next Generation 9-1-1 Services & Applications (NG911)

· Situational Awareness and Tactical Coordination

· Public Safety Broadband Solutions

· Cyber Security

· Mission Critical Communications

· Identity Credentialing and Access Management (ICAM)

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A Collaborative Critical Communications Event

Interop plays a pivotal role in ensuring that agencies and responders are fully prepared for any large-scale emergency. By testing communication systems, practicing interagency collaboration, and integrating cyber and physical security, these events help improve crisis response.

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Interoperability Institute 2024 Recap

The most significant improvement in ITEC’s outreach and communications was the revamp of the Interoperability Institute (“Interop”). After a hiatus in 2023 due to public safety deployments, Interop 2024 represented a major leap forward from 2022. Attendance for workshops soared from 70 to 290, and participation in the exercise grew from 40 to 140. The number of sponsoring vendors also increased dramatically, from 8 to 22.

Keynote speakers at the event included recognized authorities in public safety:

• Daniel Cotter, Executive Director of the Office of Science and Engineering (OSE) in the Science

and Technology (S&T) Directorate, US Department of Homeland Security

• Charles Guddemi, District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Agency’s (HSEMA) Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC)

• Joe Wassel, Executive Director and CEO of the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority

Attendance included public safety thought leaders and first responders from:

• 4 countries

• 13 US federal agencies

• 12 DC and state public safety agencies

• 25 city and county public safety agencies

• 4 universities

• 7 industry associations

• 44 technology companies, including 22 that sponsored the event

ITEC’s ability to unite academia, government, industry, and practitioners highlighted its growing influence and solidified its role as a leader in critical communications research.