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DC Mayor announces new OUC director

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DC Mayor announces new OUC director


D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced Friday that Heather McGaffin is her new nominee to steer the Workplace of Unified Communications.

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The OUC is the company that handles the District’s 911 name middle.

“I’ve labored in 911 since I used to be 22 years outdated. It is after I took my first time on one name. I keep in mind that name, I bear in mind the 1000’s after that decision,” McGaffin instructed FOX 5. “I’ve had the flexibility to work in a number of facilities throughout this nation each internally and as a assist, serving to to restructure. I’ve labored right here at OUC via two administrations, and we now have work to do, and we’re going to do this work. And we’re going to be robust within the work that we do and stay clear and accountable in that work,” 

McGaffin’s nomination comes about two months after Mayor Bowser pulled Karima Holmes from the working following a showdown with the D.C. Council.

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Holmes joined the company in 2015 however stepped down in 2020 amid scrutiny from public security advocates and metropolis leaders. A lot of that scrutiny needed to do with 911 call-taker errors being uncovered the place the errors additionally result in delays in service. In some circumstances, folks died.

With assist from colleagues, the council’s earlier Judiciary and public security chair refused to carry a affirmation listening to for Holmes after the mayor renominated her for the director place. The mayor pulled Holmes’ nomination in early December, promising a nationwide seek for a brand new chief.

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Mayor Bowser repeated her assist for Holmes earlier than asserting three new cupboard picks, together with McGaffin. The union representing town’s 911 call-takers had additionally supported Holmes.

The mayor says Heather McGaffin joined the OUC in 2020 because the chief of particular operations and investigations. She was promoted to deputy director in February 2022. Earlier than then, she labored for about 5 years as a nationwide public security agency marketing consultant. In 2005, officers stated she started work as a Calvert County 911 call-taker. At age 16, she labored as an EMT.

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DC high brass rallies for OUC nominee Karima Holmes

FOX 5 requested the mayor how this nomination helps construct belief when she selected somebody from inside as an alternative of trying elsewhere. Particularly since OUC has been below a microscope for the previous 12 months.

“I’ve had a possibility to speak to people who find themselves contained in the company, exterior the company, and individuals who have questions concerning the company. And what they need is an individual who is aware of 911 from the in and out, from dispatching calls to coaching workers to supporting workers and even when it’s essential to self-discipline workers, and that’s the chief we now have in Heather,” Bowser stated. 

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The mayor wouldn’t reply how many individuals have been interviewed for the function.

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Requested what accountability would seem like for these call-takers discovered to be making repeated errors, McGaffin stated that’s a dialog that must be had.

Public Security Advocate David Statter, who has been flagging call-taker errors these previous a number of years, criticized McGaffin’s remarks referring to OUC as already clear.

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Listening to set to deal with 911 name middle points in DC

I give Heather McGaffin an opportunity to show herself and I want her effectively, however I’m involved that the mayor is proud of establishment, taking an inside candidate,” he stated. “Additionally taking somebody who’s by no means led an enormous metropolis 911 middle. This is identical factor they’d earlier than with Karima Holmes.”

An OUC spokesperson instructed FOX 5 the company is happy about Heather McGaffin’s nomination and is assured in her means to steer, given her biography in public security.

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“OUC is a vital company and powerful management at its helm is significant to our metropolis’s public security,” stated Councilmember Brook Pinto, the D.C. Council judiciary and public security chair. “When District residents name in an emergency, they need to have full religion that assistance will arrive in a well timed method on the proper location. We’d like a Director who’s dedicated to delivering on that expectation and laser-focused on lowering errors and rising coaching. I stay up for assembly with Performing Director McGaffin and conducting a complete affirmation course of to make sure we’re aligned in these targets.”

McGaffin has 180 days to fulfill the residency requirement for this place.



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Washington, D.C

They’ve Got the Power: Washington, D.C., USL Super League Club Unveils Name, Logo

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They’ve Got the Power: Washington, D.C., USL Super League Club Unveils Name, Logo


The newest professional women’s soccer franchise in the United States is ready to power up with their new name and crest.

Washington, D.C.’s entry in the USL Super League unveiled its identity on Monday, May 20. They’ll be known as DC Power Football Club, or Power FC for short, and unveiled a striking black-and-red crest.

The crest consists of a black and red shield with an eagle wing cutting through the middle “reflecting our attacking style of play.” The negative space in the wing has three lightning bolt shapes to represent the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. At the top of the shield, “POWER FC” is written out in white, with three red stars underneath to “evoke the iconic DC city flag.” And in the red bottom half of the shield, there’s an interlocking “DC” monogram.

“This is a monumental day for our club and the integration into the community as we officially launch our team’s name and crest,” said club president Jordan Stuart on their website. “Power FC’s identity is deeply rooted in the dynamic spirit and resilience of its hometown, Washington, DC. As our nation’s center of power, Washington, DC bears a unique responsibility. The responsibility to lead. To effect change. To inspire. This energy drives Power Football Club.”

The black, red and white color scheme may be intentionally evocative of Major League Soccer side D.C. United as a partnership has been established between the two clubs. Devin Talbott, a part-owner of D.C. United, is also part of Power FC’s ownership group, along with Angel Reese of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

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Power FC will play their home games at Audi Field, which they’ll share with D.C. United. The USL Super League will kick off in August 2024 and continue until spring 2025 with a winter break, but a detailed schedule has not yet been released.

The initial eight teams for the 2024-25 USL Super League season include:

Other markets identified for future expansion include: Chattanooga, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; Palm Beach, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and Tucson, Arizona.



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Enstrom among select few helicopters in Washington, D.C. flyover

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Enstrom among select few helicopters in Washington, D.C. flyover


On May 11, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation had the distinct honor of taking part in a general aviation (GA) flyover of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The flyover was in commemoration of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)’s 85th anniversary. 

The diverse group of aircraft included 15 chapters of planes, telling the story of GA in America, including aviation’s Golden Age, the postwar boom, and all the way up to modern business jets and wildfire-fighting airplanes.

Of the 60 or so aircraft that participated, only three were helicopters, distinguishing Enstrom as part of a select company. 

“AOPA sent us an invitation back in January,” said Enstrom chief commercial officer Dennis Martin. “From there, I had to go through multiple briefings and background checks from the FAA and Secret Service. It was a fairly involved process” 

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FAA personnel and AOPA staff timed the operation to the second, organizing the flight based on aircraft and pilot capabilities. Officials shut down Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for an hour to make way for the flyover. 

Martin flew the Enstrom 480B from Menominee, Michigan, to Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland, where he then flew down the Potomac along the designated flyover route. 

After reaching Roosevelt Island, Martin took a turn at the Lincoln Memorial, flew down Independence Avenue, and dipped south at the Hirshhorn Museum. Martin and his fellow aviators flew at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, all just a half mile away from the White House, one of Washington, D.C.’s most restricted flight zones. 

“It was surreal. Millions of people see these landmarks from the ground every year, but unless you’re the president, nobody gets to see them from the air,” said Martin. “And for the locals, they might typically only spot military aircraft or massive airliners in the airspace above D.C., so for 60 smaller airplanes and helicopters to fill the skies, it must have made for a unique and breathtaking experience.” 

Following the flyover, Martin exited the restricted airspace and flew back up to Frederick. He recognized Enstrom’s participation in the flyover as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

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“But if AOPA ever hosts a celebration like this again, I’d accept an invitation in a heartbeat,” added Martin. “My 11-year-old daughter had a blast flying alongside me.” 

For anyone unable to watch the flyover live, a rebroadcast is available here. You can also watch a highlight reel from the event here.

This press release was prepared and distributed by Enstrom.



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Washington, D.C

Honor Flight Continues Salute to Veterans in Washington D.C

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Honor Flight Continues Salute to Veterans in Washington D.C


FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The Minnesota North Dakota Honor Flight continues as veterans from the region celebrate their service in Washington D.C. 102 veterans loaded onto buses and visited several museums and memorials on Monday; first visiting the National Archives where there would be able to see historic documents and relics such as the Declaration of Independence.

Navy Veteran, Robert Leslie reflected on the trip thus far outside the Navy Memorial.

“It’s awesome, seeing the World War 2, and the Iwo Jima and the archives and now the Navy.. It’s exciting. It’s exceeded my expectations.”

Leslie remembers his service fondly, taking pride in his service to his country.

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“I would gladly do it again, I was in ‘65-69 during Vietnam and I’d gladly do it again, i have no regrets whatsoever going into the service// It’s fun and talk about some of our experiences in the service, year, it’s kind of neat, yeah, find out what other people did, yeah.”

Veterans from the Vietnam War, The Korean War, and even a veteran from World War 2 were chaperoned across the Nation’s Capital by dozens of honor flight volunteers. ND/MN Honor Flight Vice President Lori Ishaug says that organizing and coordinating this trip is her way of giving back to the veterans.

“For the love of the country, for the love of the veterans and really if the veterans didn’t do what they did we wouldn’t be here and this is our way of giving back and thanking them, plus the two sisters on either side of me are veterans so I grew up with, you know, the military family so for me personally it’s just my way of giving back,” said Ishaug who also volunteers with here sisters, Susan Schoeder and Diane Modrow.

The trip will conclude Tuesday with visits to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, and Fort McHenry before flying back to Hector International Airport in Fargo Tuesday afternoon.

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