Michael Baltrotsky

Assistant Fire Chief / CIO at Montgomery County, Maryland - Fire & Rescue Service

Speaker

Michael Baltrotsky is a seasoned Fire, Emergency Services, and Information Technology Executive with more than 32 years of distinguished public safety experience. Currently serving as the Assistant Fire Chief of Communications and Mission Critical Technologies (Technical Operations) for the Montgomery County, Maryland, Fire and Rescue Service, he leads the Communications Section of one of the nation's most complex all-hazards public safety organizations. In this role, he oversees all Communications dispatch and mission critical technology across 50+ worksites, managing mobile data, land mobile radio systems, cellular IT systems, and computer-aided dispatch systems for over three thousand users. Michael has earned national recognition for pioneering technology strategies that modernize public safety operations, including the deployment of encrypted communications, mission-critical IT transitions, and resilient cloud-based infrastructures. His leadership extends beyond local operations as the chair of multiple National Capital Region interoperability committees, where he continues to advance coordination and collaboration across hundreds of agencies. In addition to his executive leadership, Michael brings specialized aviation expertise as both an FAA-certificated, instrument rated commercial pilot and a licensed UAS operator. This unique skill set provides insight into the technologies surrounding public safety operations within the national airspace, enhancing situational awareness through the integration of manned and unmanned systems. A lifelong advocate for professional development, Michael is a Public Safety Chief Officer, active in national standards development committees, and a frequent speaker on encrypted communications and overall communications interoperability. Guided by core values of integrity, accountability, and community service, he continues to drive innovation and resilience in public safety technology and operations.