REPLY: That's a start, but there's more to it than that. The Civil Defense or Emergency Services Director, or designee, appoints the Radio Officer. Then its the responsibility of that Radio Officer to appoint (as a rule) assistants and/or alternates which should be subject to your approval for reasons to be indicated. Initially the Radio Officer thinks in terms of communications, but as the relationship between the emergency management agency and the Radio Officer deepens, the astute Radio Officer finds ways of assisting in the fields of administration, management, and sometimes even in that of affecting short and long range policies.
The well selected Radio Officer, like the well selected paid staff of the agency, is familiar with the span of control and selects assistants who specialize in specific activities: such as administration, operations and technical. These key assistants may well be properly subject to your approval as the appointing authority since in some instances you may have to work directly with them instead of the Radio Officer (if he/she were away, ill, or injured for example.)
Here, the position to which the Radio Officer reports, or responds to, is the RACES Coordinator (as well as what other title may apply locally). With a minimum of oversight the Radio Officer should carry out the day-to-day matters; but with the clear understanding that all policy matters should be approved first by the RACES Coordinator. We encourage the creation of such depth in the RACES organization and finding means and ways to use the volunteers besides just radio communication operators and equipment providers!
---Cary Mangum, W6WWW, California Chief State Radio Officer