Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Recognizes FirstNet, Axon, and PepperBall as Sponsors of Inaugural Symposium

The national gathering of leaders and experts will focus on solutions to the first responder mental health crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 17, 2026 — The Howard C. Liebengood Foundation (HCLF) is proud to recognize Founding Sponsor FirstNet®, Built with AT&T along with Axon and PepperBall as sponsors of the inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Symposium: The Evolving Law Enforcement Landscape & the First Responder Mental Health Crisis, taking place September 30–October 1, 2026, at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.

“The first responder mental health crisis cannot be addressed by any one organization, profession, or intervention,” said Dr. Serena Liebengood, founder and board principal of HCLF. “It requires collaboration among the organizations that serve, equip, support, and lead the public safety community. We are deeply grateful to FirstNet, Axon, and PepperBall for helping make this important national conversation possible.”

Presented in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, the Symposium will address subjects including the changing law enforcement environment, the occupational impact of police work, organizational leadership, bipartisan policy approaches, pre- and post-crisis intervention, evidence-based decision-making, organizational resilience, and collaborative labor-management strategies,

“The Symposium will bring together leaders from police and fire services, healthcare, policy, and academia,” Dr. Liebengood explained. “Participants will examine how the changing demands of public safety affect the health and well-being of first responders—and how agencies and their partners can translate research and experience into meaningful organizational change.”

The Symposium’s Founding Sponsor—FirstNet, Built with AT&T—is also joined by Axon, and PepperBall.  These companies are the nation’s leading innovators when it comes to public safety technology and practical applications to support better and safer outcomes for officers and communities.  Their support for the HCFL’s inaugural Symposium is just the latest demonstration of their commitment to public safety and the men and women who selflessly serve their communities.

Registration and additional information about the Symposium are available at https://hclf.org/symposium.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

For more about the Howard C. Liebengood Foundation – https://hclf.org

For more about the Inaugural HCLF Symposium - https://hclf.org/symposium

Media Contact

Erin Vermilye
Executive Director
The Howard C. Liebengood Foundation
erin@hclf.org I 202-550-3634
https://hclf.org