FirstNet names Casey as chief of staff

FirstNet announced that law-enforcement veteran William Casey has joined the organization as its chief of staff, as FirstNet continues its efforts to hire senior-level personnel to lead the efforts associated with building a nationwide broadband network for first responders.

As chief of staff, Casey will be part of FirstNet’s senior management team and will report directly to General Manager Bill D’Agostino, according to a FirstNet spokesperson. Casey “will provide a broad range of analytical, strategic and administrative services in support of the FirstNet senior management team” and “will monitor the use of resources, provide project and portfolio management and report on the status of FirstNet's ongoing operations, special projects, and priority programs,” the spokesperson said. 

Casey is joining FirstNet on a one-year, renewable detail from his position as the program manager for the Biometric Center of Excellence (BCOE), which is an initiative of the FBI’s science and technology branch. Located in Clarksburg, W.V., the BCOE collaborates with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and public-safety agencies “to further biometric research and policy,” according a press release.

Casey—no relation to the former CIA director with the same name—is a former member of the technical committee of the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association and was “actively engaged” in the efforts on Capitol Hill to have Congress reallocate the 700 MHz D Block to public safety for a nationwide broadband network, according to the press release.

A 30-year veteran of law enforcement, Casey began his career as a police officer for the city of Boston and eventually served as the deputy superintendent responsible for the procurement, maintenance and operation of the Boston police department’s information-technology and telecommunication units.

Before joining the Boston police force, Casey was an aviation-electronics technician for the U.S. Navy. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Suffolk University and a law degree from the New England School of Law.