(WASHINGTON, DC) – During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, DATAMARK Technologies announced the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) as the recipient of its 9-1-1 Center of the Year award, honoring the unwavering dedication and exceptional efforts of OUC and its telecommunicators in the heart of the nation’s capital.  

“Our telecommunicators do some of the most important work in the District, and this recognition serves as an acknowledgement of their dedication to the safety and prosperity of this great city,” said Director Heather McGaffin. “I’m proud of the more than 400 OUC employees and their dedication to our mission every day, and especially in historical moments as we ensure that our city successfully does what needs to be done when the eyes of the world are upon us.” 

The District’s 911 call center is one of the busiest in the country, historically ranking as the 4th busiest center behind those of New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In 2024, OUC handled approximately 1.68 million 911 calls for service, including more than 2,800 calls requiring CPR instructions. In January 2025, the agency played a key role in responding to and coordinating efforts following several large-scale National Special Security Events and the January 29 mid-air collision over the Potomac River.  

"National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is about recognizing the unsung heroes who answer our nation’s 9-1-1 calls,” said Robert Murphy, Chief Revenue Officer at DATAMARK Technologies. “DATAMARK Technologies established the 9-1-1 Center of the Year Award to celebrate their devotion, expertise, and impact of 9-1-1 call centers. The communications center at our nation’s capital faced unprecedented challenges in 2024-2025, and we are proud to recognize its exemplary contributions with this award." 

DATAMARK Technologies provides a new era of 9-1-1 and redefines interoperability for the public safety industry, offering a fully integrated solution that empowers public safety agencies to manage, maintain, and leverage geographic information systems GIS data to the highest industry standards 

For more information about OUC, visit ouc.dc.gov.