Professional Bio
Dr. James Trumbly brings more than 40 years of experience in the Information Technology field as a Project Manager and Systems Analyst. Dr. Trumbly is a member of the Osage Nation, specifically the Eagle Clan from the Pawhuska District.
When the Osage Nation was awarded, grants totaling almost $64M, Chief Standing Bear asked Jim to come out of retirement and build the Fiber Optic Backbone for the Osage People. “As we built out the network, what’s in the forefront of our minds was what’s best for the Osage people,” Dr. Trumbly did just that. He created Wah-Zha-Zhe Connect, which is the construction arm of the Osage Nation for building out and deploying fiber optic broadband for all of the Osage Tribal Lands, Osage County. It was not a small task. Osage County is slightly smaller than the entire State of Delaware. Under his direction, the Osage Nation was one of the first major grant recipients of NTIA grants to put shovels in the dirt. For the groundbreaking ceremony, not only did NTIA send a representative, but even the White House sent Tom Perez to attend.
Dr. Trumbly said about the importance of broadband to native people in general and to the Osage Nation in specific, “Our language department can improve distance learning. We can increase online culture and language classes. The health clinic can increase telehealth. The Osage Nation Museum can create virtual exhibitions. This is in addition to connecting and maintaining that thread from generation to generation, linking us with our ancestors and descendants.”
Once Dr. Trumbly became involved in the Fiber Broadband buildout, he quickly realized that many of the tribes could use his expertise and experience. So, with that thought in mind, once the Osage Nation we at a point where they could continue the work that Dr. Trumbly started, he decided to assist other tribes in their quest for connectivity. That is why he joined Tribal Ready.
When the Osage Nation was awarded, grants totaling almost $64M, Chief Standing Bear asked Jim to come out of retirement and build the Fiber Optic Backbone for the Osage People. “As we built out the network, what’s in the forefront of our minds was what’s best for the Osage people,” Dr. Trumbly did just that. He created Wah-Zha-Zhe Connect, which is the construction arm of the Osage Nation for building out and deploying fiber optic broadband for all of the Osage Tribal Lands, Osage County. It was not a small task. Osage County is slightly smaller than the entire State of Delaware. Under his direction, the Osage Nation was one of the first major grant recipients of NTIA grants to put shovels in the dirt. For the groundbreaking ceremony, not only did NTIA send a representative, but even the White House sent Tom Perez to attend.
Dr. Trumbly said about the importance of broadband to native people in general and to the Osage Nation in specific, “Our language department can improve distance learning. We can increase online culture and language classes. The health clinic can increase telehealth. The Osage Nation Museum can create virtual exhibitions. This is in addition to connecting and maintaining that thread from generation to generation, linking us with our ancestors and descendants.”
Once Dr. Trumbly became involved in the Fiber Broadband buildout, he quickly realized that many of the tribes could use his expertise and experience. So, with that thought in mind, once the Osage Nation we at a point where they could continue the work that Dr. Trumbly started, he decided to assist other tribes in their quest for connectivity. That is why he joined Tribal Ready.
Organization Name
Osage Nation
Osage Nation
