Cook County’s radio analyst wins award at state conference

Cook County radio communications analyst Rowan Watkins, left, recently received an Outstanding Leadership Award from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Communications Networks. Watkins was presented with the award by Bob Hawkins, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Safety. Photo courtesy of Valerie Marasco

At the 2019 Public Safety Communication Conference hosted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Communications Networks in St. Cloud, a presentation of Outstanding Leadership Awards was held.

Across the state, there are seven regional Emergency Communication Boards and each region chose an elected official and a non-elected individual who has played a significant role in supporting and advancing emergency communications networks and operations in their respective regions. Rowan Watkins, Cook County radio communications analyst, received the award for the non-elected individual from the Northeast Region.

In his role with Cook County, Watkins is the local administrator responsible for the appropriate use of the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) system, providing operation support and maintenance of the communications network supporting more than 800 ARMER radios used by the Sheriff ’s Office, nine volunteer fire departments, EMS units, Cook County Search & Rescue, several county departments, ISD 166 school buses, North Shore Health hospital, and for use in many special events.

Watkins also oversees the operations of the county’s communication tower infrastructure and chairs the local 911 communication committee that makes recommendations to the county board on policy and operational decisions related to public safety communication. He also serves as a regional system administrator and is a trained COM-T (Communication Technician) under the National Incident Management and the Incident Command Systems who can install and troubleshoot critical communications equipment.

Watkins also serves on numerous regional and statewide emergency communication boards including: . Regional Advisory Committee . Regional Public Safety Broadband Committee . Motorola Trunk Users Group . Northeast Region Emergency Communication Board (alternate) . Land Mobile Radio Committee (alternate)

Assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Safety Bob Hawkins presented Rowan with his award.