The Call for Speaker opens October 6, 2025, and closes December 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

We are looking for content leaders who can speak on a wide array of topics that are innovative, engaging, inspiring, and informative for emergency communications professionals. APCO International’s goal is to offer relevant, timely education and training to our attendees do their jobs more effectively and make their agencies more successful. Some current topics for 2026 to be considered are:

• Challenges in the Comm Centers
• Training and Employee Growth
• Situational Awareness/Planning for Major Events (mass shootings, fires, floods)
• Real Life Scenarios & Case Studies
• Cybersecurity
• Mental Health
• Public Safety Apps
• Ethics
• NG9-1-1

The following information is required in order to submit a presentation proposal and to be considered for APCO 2026:

• Detailed information on the presentation topic
• Speaker information
• Learning objectives
• Track/topic/audience

A PowerPoint or similar is not required but is very helpful when reviewing your written proposals. While it does not have to be the final presentation, a good rough draft helps the reviewers grade sessions.

Well-developed learning outcomes are participant-oriented, observable, and measurable. Describe the skills, knowledge, and/or learning outcomes participants will be able to demonstrate as a result of this activity. (For example: At the end of this session, participants will be able to…)

You can submit a proposal for these tracks in the APCO 2026 educational program:

• Communications Center Management
• Cybersecurity in Public Safety Communications
• Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Situational Awareness
•  Federal PartnersFrontline Telecommunicator
• Leadership Development
• Mastering Media & Public Engagement
• NG9-1-1 and Emerging Technologies
• Radio and Wireless Communications Technologies
• Training Essentials
• Wellness in the Emergency Communications Center

Learn more about the tracks.

Presentations should only be submitted once. You can only choose one track and it should be the one that best categorizes your presentation based on the description given.

Yes, there is no limit on the number of submissions each person can submit.

You will have the ability to change, edit, or withdraw your presentation proposal until the deadline. If you are missing a required piece of information, you can save your work and log back in at a later time to enter the information prior to the December 8, 2026, submission deadline. Please note: all proposals must be complete in order to be considered. Any proposals left “Incomplete” will not be considered for APCO 2026. Each submission you complete will receive a confirmation email so if you don’t receive one, you know your submission is incomplete.

All information should be created and saved as a word processing document (such as Microsoft Word) prior to beginning the online submission process. Information can then be pasted into the appropriate fields on the web. Click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom of each step to ensure the information is not lost.

Online submission of proposals is required.

Yes, confirmation and notifications will be done via email. Please use an email address you check regularly. Also, allow emails sent from APCO so they don’t go into spam. If someone else is submitting for you please add a CC email to ensure the speaker receives notifications as well.

Once you have finalized your submission, an email confirmation will be sent to you confirming receipt of the presentation proposal. Before you submit your proposal, please make sure all steps have been completed, including the last step by checking the box to finalize your presentation proposal.