NGA Launches Public Safety Product Advisory Council
Council combines internal expertise with field insights for next-generation 9-1-1 solutions
NGA, a prominent player in Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) technologies, has embarked on an important initiative by establishing the Public Safety Product Advisory Council. This council serves as a strategic advisory platform to ensure that NGA’s technology roadmap evolves in tandem with the complex needs of public safety agencies both domestically and globally.
The transition to NG911 marks a significant evolution from the old analog systems to contemporary digital frameworks that adeptly manage text, video, and real-time data alongside traditional voice calls. Such transformations are increasingly vital as fire and police departments encounter an intensified demand for immediate response, reliability, and improved collaboration among agencies.
This innovative council comprises senior leaders from various divisions—product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer success. Their role is to steer the development and enhancement of NGA's solutions through a collaborative, data-driven method. By intertwining internal knowledge with direct customer feedback, the council guarantees that every new feature resonates with actual dispatcher workflows and the operational realities faced by responders.
"At NGA, every product decision is guided by one fundamental question: how can this enhance outcomes for those relying on 9-1-1?" stated Don Ferguson, the CEO of NGA. "With the establishment of the Public Safety Product Council, we aim to transcend conventional feedback mechanisms by embedding insights from our users directly into our design, planning, and delivery processes."
Key Functions of the Public Safety Product Council:
- Steer the strategic development of innovative solutions and enhancements.
- Identify and phase out underperforming features or products.
- Integrate customer feedback into product planning, education, and delivery processes.
- Align product strategies with NGA's mission for reliable, resilient, and accessible emergency communications.
The council is committed to working hand-in-hand with Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) partners and other emergency communication professionals, soliciting ongoing feedback, feature requests, and ideas for collaborative innovation. A formal Customer User Group is also being set up to facilitate greater customer engagement in the product development journey.
This initiative features two central engagement tracks — Customer Engagement and Engineering Immersion — which ensure that NGA’s field teams, engineers, and product developers gain first-hand experience of dispatcher workflows and operational scenarios through live observations, post-incident reviews, and dispatcher-led educational sessions.
According to Barbara Winn, NGA's chief growth officer, "The formation of this council underscores our conviction that successful growth stems from listening closely. By structuring customer input into our development process, we are not only refining our products but also fostering a nimble, adaptive approach to innovation that serves the broader public safety community."
Initial members of NGA’s Public Safety Product Council come from various agencies, including those in Bakersfield, Fresno, Glendora, UC Irvine, and El Cajon in California; Livingston Parish in Louisiana; and Logan County in West Virginia. The council continues to welcome new members from across California and beyond, and updates will be shared as the council evolves.
This initiative epitomizes NGA’s long-term commitment to ensuring that the technology underlying every emergency call is responsive, forward-looking, and developed in collaboration with its users.
About NGA
NGA stands as a pillar of innovation in the 9-1-1 community, channeling relentless dedication to delivering redundancy, resilience, and availability in emergency communications. Our cloud-native solutions facilitate the shift from outdated systems to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), focusing on the precise needs of call-takers, PSAPs, and emergency response teams. With a vision to be a leader in end-to-end NG911 innovation both in the U.S. and globally, NGA is crafting a trusted platform accessible to all service provider tiers, setting benchmarks for excellence and dependability in emergency telecommunications.
Contact: Heather Alexander
469-847-8643
SOURCE NGA - Next Generation Advanced
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Public Safety Product Advisory Council?
The council aims to align NGA's technology roadmap with the needs of public safety agencies, enhancing emergency response solutions.
Who are the members of the Public Safety Product Council?
Members include senior leaders from product management, engineering, marketing, and other relevant departments within NGA, as well as representatives from various public safety agencies.
How will customer feedback be integrated into NGA’s products?
The council will focus on embedding direct customer insights into product planning and development to ensure solutions meet the operational needs of dispatchers and responders.
What are the core engagement tracks of this initiative?
The initiative includes Customer Engagement and Engineering Immersion, providing field teams and engineers with practical experience in dispatcher workflows and operational scenarios.
Why is the establishment of the council important for NGA?
It symbolizes NGA's commitment to innovation through collaboration, ensuring that products are responsive to the real needs of the public safety community.
