The National Regional Planning Council (NRPC), a collaborative network consisting of both 700 MHz & 800 MHz public safety Regional Planning Committees as established by the Federal Communications Commission, is pleased to announce its election of new officers for 2023-2025.
Charles Bryson was elected as Chairman of the NRPC. Mr. Bryson, also Chairman of Regional Planning Committee Twenty (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia), has over fifty years of experience in public safety and public service. He is a member of APCO and his primary work now involves supporting the Maryland FiRST statewide interoperable 700 MHz public safety communications system as its Technical Adviser. He holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Public Safety from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is married with two adult children and five grandchildren.
Melissa Lawney was elected as Secretary for the NRPC. Ms. Lawney is also Chair of Regional Planning Committee 27 (Nevada) and currently serves as the Washoe County Regional Communications Coordinator responsible for the Public Safety Radio System that serves over 4,000 users within 15 agencies of the Washoe County Regional Communication System (WCRCS). She studied Computer Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. She is also an Amateur Technician class operator (KJ7TCR). Ms. Lawney is married and has three boys.
John Ruggiero was elected as Eastern District Director. Mr. Ruggerio has been with the Massachusetts State Police for 20 years, starting as a Dispatcher and later a Shift Supervisor at the New Braintree Regional Communications Center, followed by positions as a Radio Technician and now a Communications Engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS), the statewide 700/800 MHz trunked public safety radio system that provides service to over 40,000 subscribers. John holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1994, and currently serves as a Volunteer Examiner. For 10 years, he has been the APCO AFC Local Advisor for MA and RI, has been a member of the FCC New England Region 19 700/800 MHz Planning Committees and Technical Subcommittees, and is the current chair of those committees. He is a Massachusetts certified Communications Unit Leader (COML).
