News Media Contact: NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, press@ntia.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Mike Cannon has been named the Executive Director and CEO of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), after most recently serving as the FirstNet Authority Chief Counsel. 

The FirstNet Authority is responsible for the deployment and operation of the FirstNet Network, a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network based on a single, national network architecture.

NTIA today also released a Federal Register Notice to seek expressions of interest from individuals who would like to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority. The Board works closely with the FirstNet Authority management and is responsible for providing overall policy direction and strategic guidance.

“A seamless transition in leadership is very important right now, and I am committed to supporting Mike Cannon’s transition into this role to ensure the mission for first responders has zero interruptions,” said Renee Gordon, FirstNet Authority Acting Board Chair. “The Board looks forward to collaborating with Mike as the FirstNet Authority network continues to serve the needs of public safety day-in and day-out from routine use all the way through disasters. We will partner with Mike on future network investments, strategic goals, and making further improvements to support first responders nationwide.”

Prior to becoming the FirstNet Authority Chief Counsel, Cannon served in various other roles throughout the Department of Commerce, including as Chief Counsel for Economic Affairs, overseeing a staff providing legal advice and services to Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, Cannon served as the Chief of the General Litigation Division, overseeing a staff that handled a wide variety of federal litigation matters. 
“NTIA and the Department of Commerce are excited to work with Mike Cannon as the new FirstNet Authority Executive Director and CEO,” said Adam Cassady, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Acting NTIA Administrator. “With Mike Cannon as Executive Director and the strategic direction and oversight performed by the Board, the FirstNet Authority is in good hands and will continue to deliver for public safety.”

Cannon has more than 40 years of government service, which includes active-duty military service, employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and his career at the U.S. Department of Commerce, which he began in 1992. He is a retired Navy Captain, and served as a Radar Intercept Officer in the F-14 Tomcat. 
“I am honored to lead the dedicated team at the FirstNet Authority and am deeply committed to ensuring our nation’s first responders have the cutting-edge communications capabilities they need to save lives and protect our communities,” said Mike Cannon, Executive Director and CEO of the FirstNet Authority. 

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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration  
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.