Dan Munsey, fire chief of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, was recently honored with the FirstNet Authority’s Patriot Award.

Munsey was recognized for his leadership in developing resources to assist fire agencies in adopting broadband capabilities and his career advancing emergency communications into the fire service, according to a news release.

During his nearly 30-year career in public safety, Munsey has worked in every division of San Bernardino County Fire and is a past president of the California Fire Chiefs Association Operations Section.

In addition to his role as fire chief and fire warden of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, Munsey serves as chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Council and is a founder of both the CalChiefs Tech Summit and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Summit International, according to the news release.

As a FirstNet user and advocate of public safety broadband, Munsey has worked with the FirstNet Authority to develop resources to assist fire agencies as they adopt FirstNet and other broadband capabilities.

Munsey was one of five leaders in public safety who received the Patriot Award in June at the 5×5: Public Safety Innovation Summit in Chicago. Joe Wassel, executive director and chief executive officer of the FirstNet Authority, presented the awards.

The FirstNet Authority, signed into law in 2012, allocated 20 megahertz of spectrum and $7 billion to establish a broadband network dedicated to the nation’s first responders. It serves as an independent federal agency, responsible for overseeing the building, deployment, and operation of the FirstNet network.

As a dedicated communications system, FirstNet supports priority and preemption for first responders, ensuring they are moved to the front of the line to talk text and share data during an emergency.