Manny Centeno, who is familiar to broadcasters who work in emergency alerting, has been promoted to director of IPAWS at FEMA.
Centeno succeeds Antwane Johnson, who had held the post since 2009. Centeno’s prior title was program manager.
“Director Centeno has been supporting IPAWS in different capacities since 2010,” the organization wrote in an announcement this week.
“His work has integral to propelling the program to new heights. Chief among his accomplishments is his oversight of the National Public Warning System and the Primary Entry Point system which helped ensure emergency communications can reach more than 90% of the public under all conditions,” it said.
“His many successes also include leading the execution of the first Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test in 2011, directing the development of IPAWS’ satellite communications network, spearheading innovative solutions to protect critical systems from Electromagnetic Pulse, strengthening partnerships between IPAWS and the mass media industry, and leading the establishment of the IPAWS Laboratory and Technical Support Service Facility.”
lPAWS is the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national system for local alerting; FEMA established it in 2006. It provides emergency information to the public through radio and television via the Emergency Alert System, via mobile phones using Wireless Emergency Alerts, and on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio.
[Related: “NAB Says EAS Modernization Requires a Software-Based Approach”]
