Joseph Wheeler Selected to Receive IJIS Institute’s Shumate Award

Award recognizes his career-long work to enhance data integration and information sharing in the justice and public safety communities

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (March 12, 2021) — Mission Critical Partners (MCP) announced today that Joseph Wheeler was selected to receive this year’s Robert P. Shumate National Public Safety Contributor to Excellence Award from the IJIS Institute. Wheeler recently joined MCP when the firm acquired Seattle-based MTG Management Consultants, where he served as senior partner and chief executive officer (CEO). Wheeler is an MTG cofounder and led the firm’s justice and courts practice. He serves in a similar role at MCP as vice president of justice and courts.

Over a career that spans nearly four decades, Wheeler led numerous projects that enabled justice and public safety organizations to enhance data gathering, analysis and sharing, including the following:

• Consulted the Alaska Department of Public Safety regarding its effort to develop an integrated justice information technology (IT) plan
• Managed two projects for the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services designed to improve criminal history records systems in the state
• Consulted the Oregon State Police regarding its effort to establish a baseline for managing the expansion and integration of criminal justice information systems (CJIS) in the state
• Managed a project to replace the offender-based tracking system used by the Washington Department of Corrections
• Consulted the Nebraska State Patrol regarding its effort to implement an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS)

Wheeler said that receiving the Shumate Award is gratifying because it reflects upon his life’s work, in particular his focus on improving how data is leveraged in the justice and public safety communities. That focus took root very early in his career. Shortly after the attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, Wheeler spent a lot of time reviewing criminal history records. An effort was underway to determine the quality of the information that was being used for firearm background checks.

“I found that the records were horrific, and the reason was that people didn’t talk to each other and they didn’t share the records effectively,” he says. “So, I started working to find ways to solve that problem and never stopped.”

According to Darrin Reilly, MCP’s president and CEO, Wheeler’s passion for his work, which the Shumate Award recognizes, is shared by every former MTG subject-matter expert who joined MCP as a result of the acquisition.

“Like MCP, the mission of Joe and the professionals that he brought from MTG is to enable clients to better serve and protect their communities,” Reilly said. “They are driven to improve outcomes in the justice and public safety communities through more and better use of data. We’re looking forward to their collaboration.”

About Mission Critical Partners (MCP)
Mission Critical Partners (MCP) is a leading provider of data integration, consulting, and network and cybersecurity solutions specializing in transforming mission-critical communications networks into integrated ecosystems that improve outcomes in the public safety, justice, healthcare, transportation, and utility markets. Our comprehensive experience and vendor-agnostic approach helps us develop modernized solutions for our clients that achieve maximum value and optimal efficiency while mitigating risk. Additional information and career opportunities are available at http://www.MissionCriticalPartners.com

CONTACT:
Morgan Sava
Mission Critical Partners
724-964-2004
morgansava@MissionCriticalPartners.com

Alex Oltmanns
Pipitone Group
412-321-0879
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