This is an article by Gabe Elias, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 23, 2025.
Decades of work have improved public safety’s ability to share information. However, the journey toward better interoperable communication requires uncovering additional hidden barriers.
Learn how to examine response operating procedures to uncover those hidden barriers.
Listen on
Gabe Elias
Gabe Elias is the statewide interoperability coordinator (SWIC) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He advocates for collaboration and coordination across the emergency communications ecosystem, including operational communications, data sharing, alerts and warnings, and 911. As SWIC, he provides connectivity between multiple regional, state, and federal governing bodies and committees working in the communications discipline. Prior to this role, he served for over 20 years managing technology, projects, and systems staff at the Charlottesville–UVA–Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center. He is a past president of the Virginia Chapter of APCO International.
