CONCORD, N.H. – Two members of the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Emergency Services and Communications (DESC), commonly known as New Hampshire 911, were honored Tuesday evening by the Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) for their leadership and service to the public safety communications profession.
Chief of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Operations Debbie Bray was named the Atlantic Chapter’s 2026 Director of the Year, while telecommunicator Martha “Marti” Dennerly was named 2026 Telecommunicator of the Year. The awards were presented during the Atlantic Chapter’s fall conference in Parsippany, New Jersey, on Tuesday.
Bray leads the state’s two 911 call centers, which answer emergency calls from all across New Hampshire. She is responsible for the overall direction and management of the centers, including staffing, policies and procedures, employee development, planning and ensuring the state’s 911 system is prepared to serve residents and visitors around the clock.
The Director of the Year award recognizes an individual responsible for the daily direction of a public safety communications center, including budgeting, program goals, policies and procedures, and employee evaluation and development.
Dennerly has served as a New Hampshire 911 telecommunicator since 2003. In addition to answering emergency calls, she serves as a communications training officer, mentoring and guiding new telecommunicators as they enter the profession. She is also an active member of DESC’s Quality Assurance Team, helping maintain high standards for the handling of emergency calls.
The Telecommunicator of the Year award recognizes a front-line dispatcher or call taker serving a police, fire, EMS or public safety answering point agency. Dennerly’s work reflects the composure, knowledge and professionalism required of those who serve as the first point of contact during an emergency.
“Deb and Marti represent two different but equally important parts of our 911 system,” said DESC Director Mark
E. Doyle. “Deb’s leadership has helped shape and strengthen our 911 call centers, while Marti’s experience and dedication are evident every day on the 911 floor and in the telecommunicators she helps train. We are incredibly proud to see both of them recognized by their peers across New England.”
Earlier this year, DESC also recognized Dennerly as the division’s Telecommunicator of the Year.
The Atlantic Chapter of APCO represents public safety communications professionals throughout the six New England states. Its annual awards recognize individuals who demonstrate outstanding performance, professionalism and service within the public safety communications field.
The recognition of Bray and Dennerly highlights the leadership and front-line professionals who work together to provide 911 service throughout New Hampshire.
About the Division of Emergency Services and Communications
The mission of the Division of Emergency Services and Communications is “To locate, communicate and connect people in an emergency with the help they need.” The Division operates New Hampshire's 911 Emergency Number System, along with affiliated mapping, database operations, technical, and administrative roles, and the Bureaus of Radio Communications Maintenance and Interoperability. The Division provides instant access to police, fire and emergency medical assistance from any wired, cellular or VoIP telephone in the State. The New Hampshire 911 System provides a nationally-accredited, state-of-the-art emergency service response to residents and visitors all over the State of New Hampshire.
