Scott L. Brillman is the new director of the county’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC). Also known as Fairfax County 9-1-1, DPSC is a nationally recognized public safety communications center, the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the 10 largest in the United States. Fairfax County DPSC receives approximately one million calls annually.
Brillman was appointed Baltimore City’s Director of 9-1-1 in 2012, where he oversaw one of the busiest 9-1-1 centers in the country, handling 1.5 million calls per year. During his tenure the agency was recognized with the International 911 center “Team of the Year Award” from the International Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. His accomplishments in Baltimore also include helming the organization’s transformation into a “next generation ready” communications center, and planning and implementing numerous innovations.
In March 2020, Brillman was appointed Deputy Director of Emergency Management to help lead the COVID-19 response for the City of Baltimore. He also served in that role from 2007 to 2012, where he managed many of Baltimore’s large-scale emergencies, including multiple hurricanes, record-breaking snowstorms, earthquakes and the catastrophic 2012 derecho, as well as multiple-alarm fires, mass evacuations, pandemics, cyber-attacks and active shooter incidents. He also led major event planning teams, coordinating preparation and response for some of Baltimore’s largest and historic special events.
Prior to his appointment to Baltimore City 9-1-1, Brillman also served as a paramedic and mentor with the Baltimore City Fire Department. He has maintained his paramedic certification and served as a Medical Specialist on Maryland’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
He is a member of numerous professional associations and councils and has served on multiple advisory committees. He has been honored with citations and recognitions from the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, among others. He received a bachelor’s in emergency health services management from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a master’s in management/executive leadership from Johns Hopkins University. Brillman is a Certified Emergency Manager, among many professional certifications.