Gary J. Thomas is the Assistant Chief/9-1-1 Coordinator for Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA, and has been in public safety communications for over 34 years. Allegheny County employs over 250 telecommunicators and provides dispatch services to 95 law enforcement departments, 169 fire departments and 45 EMS agencies. Thomas has been an APCO adjunct instructor since 2001 and teaches both live and online courses for the APCO Institute. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science and holds an Associate’s Degree in Public Safety Communications from Jacksonville State University, AL. Thomas enjoys fishing, camping and the outdoors.