Sheriff Michael Adkinson to Chair FirstNet Authority Board
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. has been appointed chairman of the First Responder Network Authority Board by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced Thursday.
Adkinson has served as sheriff of Walton County since 2009 and was reelected in 2024. He joined the FirstNet Authority Board in 2024 and has served as acting chairman since September 2025. He also serves on the board of directors for the National Sheriffs’ Association and previously served as president of the Florida Sheriffs’ Association and chief of police for the City of DeFuniak Springs.
The FirstNet Authority oversees the nationwide public safety broadband network, developed in partnership with AT&T to support emergency response operations, disaster recovery, and large-scale event security. Adkinson takes the helm as FirstNet pursues major network modernization efforts, including a recently announced $2 billion agreement with AT&T to accelerate dedicated 5G deployment, reduce operational costs, and increase investments in public safety connectivity.
In 2025, AT&T and the FirstNet Authority launched 1,000 new cell sites across 46 states and Washington, D.C., many located near hospitals, fire stations, police departments, and tribal communities to strengthen communications for first responders.
Having a Northwest Florida sheriff lead the board underscores the region’s stake in reliable emergency communications, particularly as coastal communities like Freeport face hurricane season and other large-scale disaster risks.
Photo: ExecutiveGov
Source: ExecutiveGov
