Secretary Raimondo Appoints Sean McDevitt to FirstNet Authority Board

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the appointment of Sean McDevitt, a partner with international management consulting firm Arthur D. Little (ADL) to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority).

Mr. McDevitt has been a member of ADL’s telecommunications, internet, technology and private equity practice areas since 2017. He brings 30 years of private sector experience specializing in business development, business expansion, leadership, account management, and client project delivery for telecommunications and technology sectors. Prior to that, Mr. McDevitt served in a variety of executive positions in the global communications, technology and digital media industries.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the selection of Mr. Sean McDevitt to serve on the FirstNet Authority Board,” said Secretary Raimondo. “He brings decades of experience in telecommunications and technology to this important oversight role as we enter the next phase in FirstNet’s development.”

Mr. McDevitt will serve as one of 12 non-permanent members selected by the Department of Commerce; the remaining three permanent seats are occupied by the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Board oversees activities to ensure that the FirstNet Authority and AT&T—its commercial partner—develop, build, and operate a nationwide public safety broadband network that will best equip first responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities.

“Congratulations to Sean McDevitt and welcome to the FirstNet team,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “He will bring valuable insights on the investments necessary to help FirstNet thrive in the era of 5G and beyond.”

Background:

The First Responder Network Authority is an independent entity within the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  The FirstNet Authority’s mission is to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities.  In March 2017, the Department of Commerce and FirstNet announced a partnership with AT&T to build and operate the first responder network. It is delivering the technologies and infrastructure that public safety relies on for day-to-day operations, disaster response and recovery, and securing of large events.

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created the FirstNet Authority, and Congress directed that it be governed by a 15-person Board, with the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget named as permanent Board members. Congress charged the Secretary of Commerce with selecting the remaining 12 non-permanent members.