Robert Donald Bloom

Robert D. Bloom, 61, of Alexandria, Virginia, died on Monday, July 20, 2020. Like many trailblazers, he lived a life that represented a passion and enthusiasm for evolving Public Safety Innovation.

Robert Bloom was known professionally as "Bob", serving the Public Safety Community for almost 30 years. He was kind, intelligent, humorous, hardworking, patient, and loving, and, most of all, valued honesty, justice, and integrity.

Robert Bloom was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1959, to Donald George Bloom, and Vera Lavelle Bowman of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.

Graduated from Williamsport area Jersey Shore High School in 1977 and completed two years at the Williamsport Area Community College, now Penn State University. Years later, he attended the Jacksonville State University, majored in Emergency Management (Bachelor of Science, 2006-2010), and the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), and majored in Computer & Information Systems Security/Information Assurance (Bachelor of Science, 2011-2015).

In 1997, Bob moved to Baltimore and worked as a Police Emergency Dispatcher with the Baltimore City Police Department, and then became the Public Safety Communications Analyst for Baltimore City Fire. He worked various jobs, impacting the Public Safety Industry from all facets to include working as a Trainer for Integraph, Software Specialist for Motorola, and a Public Safety Systems Administrator for AECOM. In 2014, he joined the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and in February 2016 became the Public Safety Systems Administrator for the City of Alexandria Department of Emergency & Customer Communications (DECC).

Bob was undoubtedly a visionary in Public Safety Communications, notably for his recent works in deploying Alexandria's 911 & 311 "Remote Calltakers & Dispatchers" to take calls from home during the pandemic.

He was an avid learner of technology, especially when it came to 911. He had an unparalleled dedication and knowledge for Public Safety that lead him to become an active member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). He has been recognized for many awards and certifications to include APCO's Certified Public Safety Executive Program, Registered Public-Safety Leader, and NENA's Emergency Number Professional.

Bob was an instrumental leader in overseeing many successful APCO projects, most recently chairing APCO's 2019 Baltimore Conference Committee, and serving as an Executive Board member for the Mid-Eastern Chapter of APCO. He also served as Chair for Professional Development Events Committee, Vice-Chair of Cybersecurity Training Writing Group, and a member of the Cybersecurity Committee.

Bob had a wonderful public safety career, traveling worldwide, speaking, teaching, and learning. He was always quick to smile, crack a joke, and start a rapid-fire talk, often starting a thought and winding up in intense dialogue before concluding. He has left a permanent mark etched on our hearts and will be supremely missed for his fierce independence, strength, wisdom, and loyalty.  He leaves to cherish his warm memory, Art Viwatpanahchat, his doggy daughter Rosie, and a host of family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Public Safety Communications world.