Brotherton earns regionalism award for emergency communications work

CAPCOG presented Charles Brotherton, Travis County executive of emergency services, with its Jack Griesenbeck Leadership in Regionalism Award for his dedication that spans two decades in building a regional approach to 9-1-1 and emergency radio communications at its annual meeting in December.

“Chuck has been a strong partner to CAPCOG for many years and has played a significant role in our emergency communications and homeland security programs,” said Betty Voights, CAPCOG executive director. “He continues to be one of the most important people I have worked with in this region.”

Since 2005, Brotherton has actively been involved with CAPCOG helping to develop its first interoperability communications plan and serving as the first chair of the Homeland Security Task Force’s Long-term Interoperability subcommittee. He has helped guide how to best use homeland security grant funds to maximize the region’s radio system and was instrumental in creating the Greater Austin/Travis County Regional Radio System. He also helped establish and served on the Capital Area Emergency Communications District’s Strategic Advisory Committee. Brotherton helped form the Texas Radio Coalition in 2007 which later became the Texas Interoperable Communications Coalition, a voluntary statewide organization formed to improve the interoperability of public safety communications throughout the state at all levels of government.

The award is named after former Bastrop County Judge Jack Griesenbeck who served as CAPCOG’s first chair in 1970 and Texas Association of Regional Councils’ first president. It honors someone who has played a pivotal role in strengthening the Capital Area by consistently advocating for a regional and multijurisdictional approach through their work. Previous awardees have included people such as Texas Senator Kirk Watson, former Texas Department of Transportation Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh, Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and State Representative Paul Workman.