Sharon McDonough is the director of Public Safety Communications Department in Tucson, AZ, which houses the city's 9-1-1 center. Previously, she was deputy chief over the EMS Division for the Tucson, AZ, Fire Department (TFD). She was hired by TFD in 1990, progressing through the ranks of firefighter, paramedic, captain, battalion chief and deputy chief and served a two-year appointment as interim operations assistant chief. McDonough has managed fire operations, medical administration, safety and the 9-1-1 communications center, developing and implementing innovative solutions to long-standing and trending industry issues.