Skip to Main Content

Organization

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 Statewide Interoperability Office

There is no image to display



What is Interoperability?

Interoperability is the ability to communicate, as needed, on demand, in real time, and at all levels of government and across all public safety disciplines.

Interoperability is often thought of only in terms of technology, but it actually embraces three critical elements:

1.  People (human factors such as attitudes, training, capabilities and experience)

2.  Processes (patterns, plans, procedures and problem solving)

3.  ​Technology (the actual systems and equipment)​


Why Is Interoperability Important?

​A​​fter events such as the attack of September 11, 2001, the Boston Marathon Bombing and others, it was learned that first responders could not effectively communicate with each other.  This was particularly true for interoperability across agencies, disciplines and levels of government.  Large scale events frequently require a multi-jurisdictional, multi-discipline response, and in more and more instances,  a multi-state response.  Interoperability allows public safety officials and first responders to effectively communicate using available technologies at pre-planned events, incidents, weather events, natural disasters and terrorist attacks.  Interoperability no longer means only radio communications, but has expanded to  included data, video, social media, applications  and software, GIS and situational awareness maps, broadband and other technologies used to communicate information. 
​
Contact Us:
Maryland Statewide Interoperability Office
Maryland State Police Headquarters
1201 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, MD 21208
410-653-4200


Director, Maryland Statewide Interoperability Office/SWIC  

Office Vacant



Our Mission

·       To achieve statewide, interoperable, secure, mission-critical communications through shared applications of technology, policy and procedures, and training;

·      To maximize Maryland’s communications ecosystem to provide a variety of robust, resilient and reliable interoperable systems for the purpose of providing communications interoperability for all public safety partners, and;

·      To promote inter-agency cooperation and coordination to implement effective communications solutions spanning jurisdictional and organizational boundaries.


Our Vision

To have interoperable, secure, mission-critical communications programs ensuring that Maryland's public safety partners can coordinate, share information, and provide an effective and efficient response to any event or emergency incidents.