Lisa M. Fowlkes is the Chief of the FCC's Public Safety Homeland Security Bureau.  Under her leadership, the Bureau develops and implements policies, consistent with the FCC’s statutory authority, to ensure that first responders and the American public have access to effective, reliable, and secure communications, and collaborates with Federal government partners responsible for protecting the nation’s communications infrastructure.

For over a decade, Chief Fowlkes has led initiatives to ensure that people who dial 911 can reach emergency assistance and that first responders can locate those who need help.  She has also led efforts to ensure that consumers have access to accurate and timely emergency alerts, including the introduction of Wireless Emergency Alerts and its ongoing enhancements.  She has promoted resilient and secure communications systems through public-private collaboration as well as investigations into significant 911 and other communications network outages.

Chief Fowlkes previously served as a Deputy Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, where she was responsible for the FCC’s policies on cybersecurity, communications reliability, and emergency alerting.  During her more than 26-year career at the FCC, Chief Fowlkes also served as Deputy Chief of the former Public Safety and Private Wireless Division; Acting Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and Senior Legal Advisor in the Enforcement Bureau; Acting Director of the Office of Communications Business Opportunities; Supervisory Attorney in the former Cable Services Bureau; and Attorney-Advisor in the Office of General Counsel and former Mass Media Bureau.  She also spent two years in private practice at a Washington, D.C. law firm where she represented public safety agencies on regulatory matters. Chief Fowlkes earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

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