Zenji Nakazawa leads the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s efforts to protect the Nation’s communications infrastructure and ensure that first responders and the public have access to effective and reliable communications. Under Mr. Nakazawa’s leadership, the Bureau develops and implements policies to strengthen 911, emergency alerting, network reliability and security, and first responder communications. The Bureau also leads the FCC’s operational preparedness and response activities during emergencies that affect the communications sector.
Mr. Nakazawa brings a “mission-first” approach to promote safety of life and property for all Americans and to secure the national defense, in collaboration with partners at all levels of local, state and federal government. Prior to assuming the role of Acting Bureau Chief, he served as the Bureau’s Associate Bureau Chief for National Security, where he led efforts with interagency partners to mitigate the security risks from untrusted equipment in the ICT supply chain, leading to publication of the first-ever FCC covered list. Prior to that, Mr. Nakazawa served as Legal Advisor to former FCC Chairman Ajit V. Pai for public safety, homeland security, consumer protection, and enforcement issues. In that capacity, he supported the agency’s efforts to promote the U.S. National Strategy to Secure 5G, ensure continuity of communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthen response capabilities of the nation’s first responders, enhance emergency alerting and 911, coordinate on national disasters, and stem the tide of illegal robocalls.
He previously served as Chief and Deputy Chief of the Policy Division in the Bureau, where he managed a broad portfolio including 911, public safety licensing, the Communications for Law Enforcement Act, and unmanned aerial systems. Mr. Nakazawa has also served as Acting Legal Advisor and Staff Attorney in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Staff Attorney in the former Cable Services Bureau. Mr. Nakazawa received his B.A. in economics from Bucknell University, and his J.D. from the University of Richmond.