DEC BIO

Matt Welch W8DEC

In 2008, the ARRL Ohio Section appointed Matt as the District Emergency Coordinator for ARES® Tenth District.  He is an experienced veteran of field operations, National Traffic System, emergency communications, and volunteers for many public service events every year.  He is a United States Navy Veteran of eight years and currently serving in the US Army Reserves.  He has been licensed since 2004 and currently holds a General Class license.  Matt enjoys dx'ing and contesting as well as ragchewing on 220MHz and 440MHz.  His favorite operating modes are APRS, WINLINK2000, and DSTAR.

In September 2005, Matt was deployed to Hurricane Katrina.  He went to Montgomery, AL to check in to the ARRL amateur radio desk.  He was sent to Hattiesburg, MS to assist the Red Cross with shelter communications.  That assignment lasted one week.  Matt was then deployed to the Hancock County EOC.  He worked in the radio room, aboard the mobile EOC, and finally as a rover.  The rover position was unique as it was used to "reappropriate" materials such as tents, tarps, and wheelchairs from one Point of Distribution to another.  After the two week adventure, he returned to Active Duty aboard the USS Cape St George CG-71 in Norfolk, VA.

Matt is employed at Amateur Electronic Supply as a sales associate / customer service representative in Cleveland, Ohio.

His extensive background in amateur radio includes:

National Organizations

• Member - American Radio Relay League
  
• Member - Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network
• Past Member - Navy-Marine Corps MARS

Clubs

• Vice President - Geauga Amateur Radio Association (GARA)
• Member - Lake Erie Amateur Radio Association (LEARA)
• Past Radio Officer - Lake County Amateur Radio Association (LCARA)
• Charter President - Radio Amateur Society of Norfolk, VA
• Past Member - Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club (VBARC)
• Past Member - Portsmouth Amateur Radio Club (PARC)
• Past Member - Chesapeake Amateur Radio Club (CARS)
• Past President - Radio Amateur Society of Norwich, CT
• Past Member - Southeastern Connecticut Radio Amateur Mobile Society (SCRAMS)

Duties

• Net Manager and Net Control Station (NCS) for Lake County ARES® Net
• Net Control Station (NCS) for Lake County Weather Net and SKYWARN™ Net
• Volunteer Examiner (W5YI)
• Past NCS for Eastern Connecticut Traffic Net
• Past NCS for Tri County Traffic Training Net

Training

• Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (CT, RI)
• Basic and Advanced SKYWARN™ Training (CT, RI, VA, OH)
• Basic and Advance Fire Police (CT and RI)
• Bloodborne Pathogen
• Completed FEMA courses, IS-100, 200, 244, 300, 700, 800, 802, 804, 806, and 809.