Media Release:
International Amateur Radio Union
October 20, 2016
Rod Stafford, W6ROD, has retired as Secretary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) after seven years of service in that position. The IARU Constitution provides that the member-society serving as the International Secretariat, i.e. the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), shall designate the Secretary. The ARRL Board of Directors has designated David Sumner, K1ZZ, to replace Mr. Stafford as Secretary effective October 15, 2016.
Mr. Sumner has served in this capacity twice previously, from 1982 to 1989 and from 1999 to 2009, while employed by the ARRL to manage its headquarters. Now retired from employment, he joins the other IARU officers and Administrative Council members in serving as a volunteer.
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, has appointed Mr. Stafford as Emergency Communications Special Advisor. In this capacity he will represent the interests of the IARU and the global Amateur Radio community in the Development Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and will offer advice and counsel on matters relating to emergency and disaster response communications.