Speakers

Karima Holmes is a distinguished senior leader and advisor operating at the critical intersection of technology, government affairs, and public safety operations. She currently serves as Vice President of Public Safety, Customer Success, and External Affairs at Carbyne, a leading cloud-native emergency communications company, specializing in AI and next generation tech. In this dynamic role, Holmes drives innovative public safety workflows, fosters strategic relationships with government officials, and leads customer success efforts. Her responsibilities include:

• Spearheading Carbyne’s public safety, customer success, and external affairs initiatives.
• Establishing measurable customer goals to ensure long-term success and optimizing user engagement across diverse teams.
• Strengthening relationships with local, state, and federal public safety officials and associations, serving as the primary liaison.
• Leading a team that acts as Carbyne’s evangelists and ambassadors while supporting sales through introductions, intel, and opportunity support.
• Managing initiatives designed to enhance public safety workflows for seamless and efficient operations.

As a passionate advocate for public safety innovation, Holmes is committed to elevating emergency communications through strategic optimization and meaningful partnerships.

Prior to joining Carbyne, Holmes built a career spanning over 25 years of expertise in managing large-scale communication operations, earning recognition as a trailblazer in the Government Technology sector. She has held executive leadership roles at emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the U.S. and served as a Branch Chief at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the nation’s efforts for a cyber resilient 911 ecosystem. Her leadership has centered on transforming critical technical infrastructures, overhauling public safety programs, and implementing cutting-edge communication solutions to support emergency response agencies nationwide. Holmes’s deep industry experience has enabled her to form impactful partnerships with local, federal, and international response agencies, driving increased continuity and efficiency within public safety communications.

One of her most notable achievements was her tenure as Executive Director of the ECC in Washington, D.C., where she managed a $125M budget, a workforce of over 400 employees, and spearheaded vital public safety programs during major crises. She oversaw the deployment of the city’s cache of 8,000 radios during high-profile National Special Security Events such as multiple State of the Union Addresses, and the 2017 and 2020 Presidential Inaugurations. Holmes’s leadership also proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 civil unrest, and the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, where she successfully maintained operational efficiency under extraordinary pressure.

Holmes’s contributions to the public safety landscape have earned her numerous awards and appointments to esteemed boards and advisory roles. In 2019, she was appointed by the U.S. Commerce Secretary to serve on the FirstNet Authority Board, providing strategic oversight for the nation’s broadband network dedicated to first responders. She also chaired the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 911 Fee Diversion Strikeforce in 2021, coauthoring recommendations to Congress aimed at ending the misallocation of 911 funds. Holmes currently serves as a senior advisor for 911der Women Inc., a nonprofit empowering individuals to excel within the public safety communications sector.

Holmes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Homeland Security. She is certified as a Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) with the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program (2021). She also contributed to the 2019 adjudication of the National Emergency Communications Plan (DHS), underscoring her expertise in shaping public safety policy at the national level.