Celebrating Excellence: 2026 Golden Headset Award Winners

By: Aly Pickett

The 2026 Golden Headset Awards brought forward an incredible group of nominations, each highlighting the impact of emergency communications professionals in moments that matter most.

From individual performance to leadership, training and team response, this year’s submissions reflected the skill, dedication and professionalism that define the field.

After careful consideration, we’re proud to recognize this year’s winners.

2026 Golden Headset Award Winners
  • Outstanding Telecommunicator Team Leader – Mary Tynes, Emergency Communications Supervisor, Edmond Emergency Communications
    Mary demonstrated exceptional leadership by transforming her team into a confident, high-performing unit. Her ability to lead through critical incidents while supporting her team afterward set her apart.
  • Legacy Achievement (Custom Category) – Kim Lettrick, Manager, Southeast Communications
    With decades of service, Kim has left a lasting mark on emergency communications through mentorship, leadership and innovation. Her work continues to influence generations of telecommunicators and strengthen the profession.
  • Outstanding International Call Taker – Lara Gibson, Emergency Call Taker, London Ambulance Service
    Lara’s calm, controlled handling of a high-stress cardiac arrest call demonstrated the critical role call takers play worldwide. Her ability to guide a caller through life-saving actions reflects the very best of the profession on a global stage.
  • Outstanding Telecommunicator Mentor or Trainer – Dawn Harris, Emergency Dispatcher II, Edmond Emergency Communications
    Dawn’s influence goes beyond training procedures. By focusing on critical thinking and professional development, she is helping shape the next generation of telecommunicators and contributing to the growth of the profession.
  • Outstanding Telecommunicator – Jaclyn Higgins, Dispatcher, University of California Irvine Police Department
    Jaclyn’s work stood out for its consistency and impact across multiple incidents. Her ability to connect information, anticipate needs and follow through has led to meaningful outcomes that extend beyond any single call.
  • Outstanding Emergency Communications Team – Shoshone County Sheriff Office ECO Team
    During an active shooter incident that directly impacted their own facility, the Shoshone County team showed extraordinary resilience and coordination. Their ability to continue operations under direct threat exemplifies the highest level of teamwork and dedication.
Thank You

To everyone who has submitted a nomination, this year or any of the years prior, thank you. Your stories make this program possible, and it is our privilege to help share them.

Read the full stories behind this year’s winners: https://www.zetron.com/npstw-2026/

Share:

Popular Posts

Subscribe to our Blog

Subscribe to Z-Wire today to get updates on new content.

Have a question about the Blog?

Send us your questions, comments or if you’d like to contribute a post click here.

Related Posts

Your Control Room Doesn’t Need Replacing. It Needs Preparing.

For years, conversations about control room technology have centred on replacement.

Replacing legacy systems. Replacing networks. Replacing infrastructure.

Today, that conversation is changing.

The control room has evolved more in the last five years than it did in the previous twenty. Emergency services are responding to increasing demand, more complex incidents and greater public expectation, while preparing for one of the biggest technology transitions in a generation through the Emergency Services Network (ESN).

Read More

Managing Risk, Vulnerability and Demand: The Growing Importance of THRIVE

Every call into a police control room matters. But not every call carries the same level of threat, harm or risk. As police forces continue to face growing demand, increasingly complex incidents and ongoing resource pressures, the ability to quickly assess and prioritise calls has never been more important. That’s why THRIVE has become such a fundamental part of modern policing.

THRIVE, which stands for Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability and Engagement, provides a structured framework that helps call handlers and dispatchers assess incidents consistently and make informed decisions about the most appropriate response.

Read More

Your Zetron. Your Way.

The pressure to modernize emergency communications is real and growing. Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) migration, Text-to-9-1-1, GIS-based location services, integrated workflows and automation across call taking, computer aided dispatch (CAD) and dispatch, are no longer aspirational — they are operational expectations.

At the same time, agencies face staffing shortages, budget constraints, evolving funding opportunities and growing demands on telecommunicators and dispatch teams, all of which can impact modernization efforts.

Your Zetron, Your Way is about giving our customer choice and partnering in a way that builds a path forward that respects their infrastructure, budget cycles and operational realities.

Read More

Police.AI: turning national ambition into operational reality

Police.AI represents one of the most significant shifts in policing in a generation.

Backed by more than £115 million in funding and positioned at the centre of the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, it signals a clear move away from fragmented innovation towards a nationally coordinated, technology enabled policing model.

Read More