Renee Gordon Named Director of Alexandria’s Department of Emergency Communications
City Manager Mark B. Jinks has announced the appointment of Renee Gordon as the new Director of the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) for the City of Alexandria. Gordon replaces former director Jo-Ann Munroe, who retired in April. As Director of DEC, Gordon will be responsible for providing executive leadership to the department, a full-service communications center that handles all 911 and non-emergency calls for Police, Fire and Sheriff services.
Gordon possesses an extensive background in emergency communications, public safety, and law enforcement. Before joining the City, she was director of 911 and Emergency Communications for the City of Baltimore and Director of the Public Safety Communications Center (for Reagan Washington National and Dulles Airports) under the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). During her tenure at MWAA, where she began as an emergency communications technician, Gordon conducted planning for communications systems and communications operations for the Police, Fire and Rescue departments within Reagan National and Dulles airports; directed the MWAA’s successful transition to a Public Safety Answering Point (a call center responsible for answering and dispatching calls to an emergency phone number for police, fire, and ambulance services); negotiated mutual aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions; and served as subject matter expert to MWAA’s executive leadership. As a corporal in the Prince George’s County Police Department, where she worked for 10 years, Gordon served as a hostage negotiator; a member of the Civil Disturbance Unit and Narcotics Enforcement Team; and pioneered Prince George’s Community Police Officer program.
“With her vast knowledge and experience in emergency communications and law enforcement, Renee Gordon’s work will enhance and maintain Alexandria’s strong reputation for being a safe city,” said City Manager Jinks. “Her expertise and leadership will serve our City well, and I look forward to her joining our team.”
Gordon is pursuing a Master’s in International Security from Trinity University in Washington, D.C., and has a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Westwood College. Gordon is an Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) registered Public Safety Leader, and a National Emergency Number Association (NENA) certified Emergency Number Professional. Gordon completed the Professional Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond and NENA Call Center Manager training.
