THOMAS NIXON
Iowa City
Summary
Seasoned Emergency Communications professional with nearly 15 years of experience in high-stakes public safety environments. Recognized for calm, effective leadership under pressure, as well as a proactive approach to process improvement, staff training, and cross-department collaboration. Proven advocate for inclusive services and information accessibility. Brings deep expertise in incident documentation, data analysis, and the secure handling of sensitive information, alongside a commitment to continuous learning and operational excellence.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Public Safety Dispatcher II
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
08.2017 - Current
- Served as a Communications Training Officer (CTO), leading the onboarding and skills development of numerous full-time and student employees through hands-on instruction, real-time feedback, and structured training protocols
- Acted as the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Coordinator, championing initiatives to enhance accessibility and advocate for improved services for non-English-speaking individuals engaging with departmental resources
- Began monthly crime map/data reports for internal department use
- Developed Procedure manual for Emergency Communications in conjunction with appropriate stakeholders
Public Safety Dispatcher II Ld
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
12.2011 - 07.2017
- Served as Lead Dispatcher on the Evening Shift, providing leadership, performance evaluation, and operational support for a team of 2–3 dispatchers to ensure consistent service quality and adherence to protocols.
- Coordinated annual updates to emergency call lists for over 30 alarm clients campus-wide, ensuring accurate contact protocols and seamless response coordination.
- Achieved and maintained Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certification through IAED, enabling the use of ProQA software to deliver critical pre-arrival medical instructions for all emergency medical calls received by the UI Emergency Communications Center
- Coordinated special projects and equipment updates, including the installation of upgraded security camera monitors and field testing a wireless keyboard system to enhance alarm response efficiency while minimizing cable clutter and equipment footprint within the communications center.
Public Safety Dispatcher I
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
06.2010 - 07.2011
- Operate a multi-frequency law enforcement radio system
- Answer a multi-line phone system, including emergency and routine lines
- Monitor 100+ Fire & Burglary Alarms and 1100+ Security Cameras across campus
- Achieved and Maintained CPR/BLS Provider Certification
- Achieved IOWA/NCIC Certification
- Completed State-Mandated Basic Telecommunicator I Course at ILEA
Education
Master of Arts - Political Science
Minnesota State University
05.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Iowa
05.2006
Skills
- Project Management
- Adaptability & Collaboration
- Leadership & Team Supervision
- Multi-Tasking In High-Stress Environments
- Highly Effective Verbal and Written Communication
- Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement
- Confidential Information Handling & Secure Disposal Protocols
- Policy & Procedure Compliance
- Incident documentation & data mining/entry
- Process Improvement & Operational Streamlining
Accomplishments
- Developed an internal data map to track trends in crime and call types across Campus to allow Campus Safety to adjust patrols, reach out to appropriate stakeholders if needed
- Achieved CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Certification and conducted multiple building and site assessments.
Certification
- Basic CPTED Certificate
- Advanced CPTED Certificate
- FEMA ICS-200, ICS-100, NIMS
- ICS-100 completed October 2009, ICS-200 completed September 2013, NIMS completed October of 2009
LANGUAGES
Spanish
Portuguese
French
Timeline
Public Safety Dispatcher II
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
08.2017 - Current
Public Safety Dispatcher II Ld
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
12.2011 - 07.2017
Public Safety Dispatcher I
University of Iowa Office of Campus Safety
06.2010 - 07.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Iowa
Master of Arts - Political Science
Minnesota State University
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