In June of 2006, Arizona initiated an online ARES registration system which allows amateurs with in the entire Arizona Section to register with ARES. This system is secured by 128 bit SSL technology, and collects significantly more information than the ARRL paper registration forms. This additional information allows us to sift and filter the data and then sort the results to determine who is the most qualified, has the required equipment, and training to staff an incident. Some of the search parameters include County, Lat/Long, Equipment types (broken out by portable, mobile and fixed stations), emergency or battery power, what level ARRL training they have, do they have first aid or CPR training and even advanced medical training. An additional portion of the site allows for the collection of the hours worked on actual emergencies, drills, and public service events. This talk will discuss the goals, technical challenges and reception the system has had.

Bio:

Mr. Aldom is a 10 year US Navy submarine veteran with more than 2 years of cumulative underwater service. While in the Navy, he became active with the Hawaiian Wing of the Civil Air Patrol as a communications officer and supported several rescue missions and drills. Later he studied for and passed the amateur radio novice test, which he then upgraded to an amateur extra class license.

Upon leaving the military, Rick returned to Arizona and became interested in emergency communications. He has served as an Emergency Coordinator and as the Section Emergency Coordinator in Arizona. Additionally, in 2003, he was on a temporary assignment to Norfolk Virginia when Hurricane Isabel slammed the East Coast. Because of his experience in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Maricopa County, he was asked to man the EOC in Chesapeake, VA. Rick spent more than 80 consecutive hours supporting communications between the Chesapeake EOC and the Virginia state EOC, area shelters, as well as the National Weather Service. Rick is a National Weather Service Advance SkyWarn spotter and supports the Phoenix office of the NWS during severe weather.

Rick is also the director of the Maricopa County Emergency Communications Group (MCECG). MCECG not only supports emergency communications but also supports many charitable events in the central Arizona region. MCECG donates nearly 5000 person hours annually to support the health and welfare of participants in charitable walks, runs, bike rides. Rick is an event coordinator for several events each year including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Ironman Arizona.

In his "spare time", Rick is employed by Lockheed Martin as a Flight Director for the Tethered Aerostat Radar System in Yuma, AZ. The TARS program is integral in restricting the flow of illegal drugs and contra-band into the United States. TARS Aerostats are about twice as big as the Goodyear Blimp, and fly more than 2 miles above the Yuma Proving Grounds.