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NCS Names Echols as Chief, Government Industry Planning Management Branch

Arlington VA, May 11, 2009 - Michael Echols became the Chief of the Government ndustry Planning Management Branch, National Communications System (NCS) on May 11, 2009. He chairs the Communications Sector’s Communications Government Coordinating Council (CGCC), manages support to the Committee of Principals (COP), and the President’s National Security Telecommunication Advisory Committee (NSTAC).

Prior to joining NCS as a federal employee, Mr. Echols consulted NCS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on critical infrastructure and national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications issues. Most recently for Booz Allen Hamilton, Mr. Echols supported the NCS as a special assistant to the NCS Director and Chief of Staff. He previously worked for ICF International serving as the Communications Sector subject matter expert for the DHS National Infrastructure Protection Plan, facilitator for Federal, State and local pandemic exercises, and a subject matter expert for interoperable communications programs.

From 2004 through 2005, Mr. Echols was a researcher for the DHS Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the Homeland Security Institute (HSI). At HSI, he participated in research and analysis of the vulnerability of the Communications Sector, global positioning system (GPS) vulnerability, and low altitude electromagnetic pulse threat.

Mr. Echols began his federal career as a Program Analyst for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2002. At TSA, he developed solutions to mitigate terrorist threats against transportation infrastructure and represented TSA in security preparations for National Security Special Events. Mr. Echols designed, deployed, and managed a wireless project at the 2004 Super Bowl, then made use of smart phones to provide interoperability for Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials.

Mr. Echols is a former telecommunications business owner and telecommunications consultant with program management, central office engineering, and field engineering experience. He has managed initiative for most major telecommunications carriers to include a national deployment of Dense Wavelength Divisional Multiplexing (DWDM) systems, NASDAQ system upgrades, and FTS-2000 cut-overs.

Mr. Echols earned a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Science in Biotechnology, graduate certificate in Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, all from the University of Maryland

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