Senior Advisor for Encryption and Project 25 Technical Subject Matter Expert
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Mr. Downes is currently assigned to the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the Emergency Communications Division. He is the Senior Advisor for Encryption and Public Safety LMR Cybersecurity in the ECD Office of the Chief of Staff
He has worked for more than 55 years in wireless communications, primarily in the public safety and Federal law enforcement environment. He has managed the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications (FPIC) for more than 20 years, which involves several Federal user agencies in addition to state and local participants striving to improve emergency communications interoperability at all levels of government.
He has been involved in the Project 25 Standards Activity since 1994 and is currently the Chair of the Project 25 Steering Committee. He also represents CISA and the FPIC, as a voting member, in the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) TR-8 standards development activities and previously served as the Chair of the Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG) for more than four years.
Advanced Encryption Standards: Necessary and Needed
Saturday, October 19, 2024
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET