Who may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES to assist relief operations during a disaster?

RACES stands for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Despite being an emergency protocol used by civil defense organizations, it operates strictly within the amateur radio frequency bands and is governed by FCC Part 97 rules. Because RACES stations are amateur stations, the control operator must always hold a valid, FCC-issued amateur radio license. Government officials or emergency managers cannot act as control operators unless they personally hold an amateur license.