FirstNet Hires Chief Technical Officer

FirstNet CTO Ali AfrashtehFirstNet welcomes Ali Afrashteh as Chief Technology Officer, a position that will help advance efforts to build a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) . In this role, Mr. Afrashteh will manage FirstNet’s planning and deployment of technology programs and initiatives and provide expertise on strategic wireless technology and network operational planning.

Mr. Afrashteh brings three decades of wireless network experience to FirstNet. He understands the critical importance of implementing a network that meets the needs of our nation’s law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. As such he will plan, develop, monitor, and coordinate the implementation of all network activities within FirstNet. He will also ensure that technical systems, policies, and processes are fully supportive of FirstNet’s mission to design and deploy a nationwide public safety broadband network.

Prior to joining FirstNet, Mr. Afrashteh was a consultant working with vendors andoperators on an international scale on wireless network planning, design, deployment, capacity planning, network optimization, and new technology development and deployment. He has served as the Vice President of Technology Development at Clearwire Corporation, where his major accomplishments included leading the design and construction of a world-class interoperability lab that is currently operational to support infrastructure and device vendors. He has also held executive positions with Sprint, Nextel, and PCS PrimeCo.

http://firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog/firstnet-team-bolstering-our-technology-and-management-expertise