Mel Smith, founder and CEO, has over 35 years public and private sector management experience, fourteen of which were with the Ventura County (CA) Fire Department. While with the Fire Department he focused on using geographical information systems to improve the delivery of first responder services and electronic document displays to provide first responders up-to-date information to reduce risk.
As a civilian member of the Executive Staff of the Fire Department, he oversaw the transition to a new CAD system which was designed to dispatch the “closest appropriate resource”. During that transition he eliminated the use paper map books and manuals in fire engines, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles. He implemented centralized management of electronic Fire Pre-Plans developed for schools, hospitals, malls, mobile home parks and business complexes into the mobile computers of all public safety vehicles in Ventura County, as well as the County’s Emergency Operations Center.
While a private sector manager, he was loaned to NASA’s Washington DC Headquarters as a participant in the President’s Executive Exchange Program. At NASA he coordinated efforts with the Department of Interior (DOI) to improve emergency medical communications in what was the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Micronesia). He also worked with DOI on the use of satellite imagery in improving land management and monitoring wildlife habitats.
He founded MAS Public Safety Consulting, LLC with the desire to assist public safety agencies in the development of affordable and modern information systems designed to save lives and property while improving first responder safety.