Email Subscription City of Champaign Announces METCAD Director Appointment
City Manager Steve Carter announced this morning that Ralph Caldwell, Jr., currently with the Springfield, Illinois, Police Department as Chief, has been appointed METCAD Director effective December 14, 2009.
“Ralph Caldwell offers a solid track record of demonstrated success in nearly 30 years of police experience in Springfield. His prior experience and interactions with similar METCAD operations as a command officer with the City of Springfield prepared him for the duties as Director,” said Steve Carter.
Sheriff Dan Walsh, chairman of the METCAD Policy Board added, “Ralph will bring a high level of energy and a strong combination of demonstrated experiences in radio and computer communications systems, problem solving, community public safety and management leadership which will enable METCAD to continue to address community challenges professionally and effectively now and in the future. I and the METCAD Policy Board expect him to be very visible in the community and to continue to work closely with user agencies. We are extremely pleased to have Ralph as the new METCAD Director.”
Carter and Walsh and many of the policy board members were impressed with several candidates and were pleased with the selection process and the ultimate outcome.
Mr. Caldwell has been in law enforcement since 1980 when he began his police career in Springfield, Illinois. There he rose through the ranks to Chief in 2007. “Ralph’s role as Director of Homeland Security in Springfield has given him very good exposure by serving as liaison in coordinating local, county, state, and federal resources. He received recommendations from area police and fire chiefs, and his experience will work in his favor during his transition to the job as Director,” said Carter. Carter went on to say that Caldwell’s prior experience as a public safety administrator and his working knowledge of 911 systems along with his relationship with intergovernmental cooperative initiatives are additional attributes that will benefit Mr. Caldwell and our community.
Mr. Caldwell said, “I am very fortunate to be working with another top quality organization. I look forward to this great opportunity and I am excited to be joining the METCAD family.”
Mr. Caldwell has a Master of Science degree from Western Illinois University. He is also a 1998 graduate of the FBI National Academy. Prior to that, he attained a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois, in 1999.
Ralph Caldwell was selected from a field of over 70 candidates considered during a national search that was completed shortly after the retirement of Rick Kallmayer. The City Manager was assisted in the search by a 22 member Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from METCAD, management staff, several community leaders and representatives of several user agencies and the METCAD Policy Board. Caldwell will assume his duties on December 14, 2009. His salary will be $127,500 per year.