Alexandria, VA – APCO International announced this week that Nicole McGinnis has accepted the position of Chief Counsel. Nicole joins APCO after serving the last 10 years in various leadership positions with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. She most recently served as deputy bureau chief; she was responsible for the development and implementation of FCC policies promoting the reliability and security of communications services, including 9-1-1, and strengthening the nation’s alerting systems – the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.
As chief counsel, Nicole will play a pivotal role in shaping APCO’s legislative and regulatory strategy. She will represent APCO on the world stage to advocate for policies, regulations and legislation that benefit APCO members and the public. As the 2024 recipient of APCO’s Leadership in Regulatory Service Award, Nicole understands and exemplifies dedication to public safety communications issues.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nicole on board the APCO executive team,” said Mel Maier, CEO & executive director, APCO International. “The experience that she brings not only from the FCC and in public safety, but also in consumer and spectrum policy, will be a significant asset to APCO’s members and the lifesaving work they do every day.”
Nicole has more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors in telecommunications and legal policy, including expertise in public safety communications, network reliability, consumer protection and spectrum policy issues. She has held several positions within the FCC, including deputy chief of the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau and legal advisor in the Office of the Bureau Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also previously worked at a large Washington, D.C., law firm as well as one of the nation’s largest wireless providers, where she worked on spectrum matters. Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in English and Government from Dartmouth College and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
