Public safety leaders will gather at the 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit for a training session exploring how grassroots collaboration can drive meaningful change at the federal level, using the creation of FirstNet as a real-world case study.

In a session titled, "Emerging Leaders Training: Understanding the Importance of Grassroots Advocacy for Public Safety," Chief Chris Moore, (Ret) San Jose Police Department, Chief Chuck Dowd (Ret) NYPD, and Sheriff Mark Lamb (Ret) Pinal County Arizona Sheriff's Office will lead a discussion, sharing lessons learned on how cooperation and communication across public safety disciplines can produce a unified voice that resonates in Washington, D.C., whether the coordination happens at the regional, statewide, or national level.

To illustrate this impact, the presenters will walk through the history of the Public Safety Alliance (PSA), a coalition of the nation's leading public safety associations.

Formed in the aftermath of 9/11, the PSA united the public safety community to advocate for the D Block spectrum, recognizing the urgent need for a single, dedicated broadband network to support mission-critical communications, devices, and applications for first responders.

Through coordinated advocacy and education, the coalition demonstrated the necessity of allocating an additional 10 MHz of spectrum so public safety could operate efficiently and effectively. Those efforts culminated in the establishment of the nationwide public safety broadband network FirstNet.

“This is a really important educational and interactive session that offers attendees a practical framework for their own advocacy efforts,” shared Chief Richard Carrizzo (Ret) of the PSBTA.  “As the presenters will emphasize, public safety professionals are driven to solve problems, and the PSA's success stands as a testament to the determination and resilience of the public safety community in advancing its mission.”

The training is part of the Vision 2026 FirstNet Users Summit, taking place Sept. 14–16, 2026, at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. The session “Emerging Leaders Training: Understanding the Importance of Grassroots Advocacy for Public Safety” will take place on Sept. 15, 2026, at 10 a.m.