Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Bloomington Fire Chief Ulysses Seal to the Statewide Radio Board.

Seal, of Bloomington, became Bloomington’s first full-time fire chief in February. He had been its volunteer fire chief since 1986, and a volunteer firefighter with the Bloomington Fire Department since 1976. Seal was also a full-time firefighter with the Minneapolis Fire Department since 1980, retiring as assistant fire chief in January to assume the full-time chief position in Bloomington. Seal represents the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association on the Statewide Radio Board Operations and Technical Committee, and is a member of the Metropolitan Emergency Services Technical Operations Committee. He assisted in the transition of both the cities of Bloomington and Minneapolis to the metropolitan ARMER 800 Mhz radio system. Seal earned his associate of applied science degree in fire science and technology from North Hennepin Community College. Seal replaces Bonnie Bleskachek on the Statewide Radio Board as a representative of metropolitan area fire chiefs.

The Statewide Radio Board was created to develop a project plan for a statewide, shared, trunked public safety radio communication system, referred to as “Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response” or “ARMER”. The board consists of 21 members, including six appointed by the Governor.