BELLEVUE, Wash. (WGNS) – The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) have received national recognition for their leadership in advancing emergency communications, earning the Patriot Award from the First Responder Network Authority.

The award was presented Tuesday during the 5x5 Public Safety Innovation Summit in Bellevue, Washington. It honors public safety leaders who use FirstNet—the nation’s dedicated broadband network for first responders—to enhance emergency communications, particularly during major incidents.“Public safety is about people, and people need to be able to reach each other in a crisis,” said Jeff Long, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. “Thanks to the hard work of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and TACN, our state has a stronger, smarter way to stay connected when it matters most.”

TACN Director Jeff Gray says FirstNet helps fill the gaps when traditional radio systems are overloaded or compromised: 

The agencies were honored for their innovative deployment of FirstNet following the March 2020 tornado outbreak, which caused widespread destruction and damaged key infrastructure, including a public safety radio tower. FirstNet’s tools—including priority access, push-to-talk capabilities, and deployable broadband units—enabled state officials to maintain communication when traditional systems were offline.

TACN was also credited for its critical role in the response to severe flooding during Hurricane Helene. As flooding overwhelmed standard systems, TACN kept emergency teams connected in East Tennessee, aiding in the rescue of Morristown Fire Department and Rescue Squad members cut off during swift water operations. Their story was later highlighted on the state’s official SafetyTN YouTube channel.

“This was a real test of our ability to adapt,” said Colonel Matt Perry, commanding officer of the THP. “FirstNet gave us the tools we needed to stay connected, coordinate damage assessments, and continue serving communities when our normal systems were disrupted.”

Both agencies have since expanded their use of FirstNet, adding resilience and flexibility to daily operations and emergency responses.