Public safety agencies around the world are integrating drone technology into their daily operations, helping save lives by providing a bird's-eye view of risky situations and enabling safe entry into dangerous buildings, among other critical uses.

To help the industry advance drone operations for public safety, DRONERESPONDERS hosts a plethora of content at Commercial UAV Expo to educate, train, and inspire the next wave of public safety UAS operations.

So far, this year has been a monumental one for public safety groups who use drones, and with that, the industry has learned what works well and what gaps are still present. Recognizing this shift, DRONERESPONDERS has curated new content to ensure that operators and officers are getting the most up-to-date education out of the program this year.

Before the event, the group will be hosting a webinar entitled DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit Preview: Training, Innovation, and Excellence in UAS on Tuesday, August 4 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. As the name suggests, leaders from the group will share what is new on the program at Commercial UAV Expo this year and highlight a few special initiatives such as the Eric Talley Memorial Award and the Program Managers Course. CUAV News caught up with webinar panelist Jason Day, Deputy Director of DRONERESPONDERS to get a better idea of what him and co-panelist Matt Rowland, last year’s Eric Talley Award recipient and former member of the Ft. Wayne Police Department, will talk about in this hour-long discussion.

This year's program will feature training that gives attendees skills they can put to use immediately, and a few sessions that draw upon events from earlier in the year, all of which Day and Rowland will go into more detail about in the upcoming webinar.

“One of the biggest additions this year is the launch of the DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course, a dedicated training opportunity designed specifically for public safety and government professionals who are building, managing, or expanding drone programs,” Day stated.

This course is a must-attend for anyone starting a UAS program or currently running one but wants to further develop your leadership skills and strengthen your program. This course is open to any industry professionals, not just public safety professionals. Day filled in CUAV News on this course in detail earlier this month, and plans to touch more on this during the live webinar.

Beyond that, a handful of sessions this year will reflect real-life scenarios where UAS public safety programs played a major role in safeguarding cities during major events.

“We're also bringing attendees timely, real-world lessons from some of the most significant drone operations conducted this year, including a two-part session examining counter-UAS operations during the FIFA World Cup. These sessions will provide firsthand insights from agencies that were directly involved in protecting airspace during one of the largest sporting events in the world,” said Day.

On a larger scale, this webinar will dive deep into the real purpose behind attending the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit; networking and relationships. The summit poses the unique opportunity to connect with people who have already solved the big issues many agencies struggle with today. Everything from policy development, training, equipment selection, funding, risk management, to operational best practices will be covered at the summit, along with the chance to talk to the people who have experience with all the above.

“Public safety drone programs succeed when agencies share lessons learned and collaborate. The Summit creates opportunities to network with leaders from law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, search and rescue, transportation, and federal agencies who are willing to share what works and what doesn't,” explained Day.

Webinar attendees will not only gain a clear understanding of what's new at this year's DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, but which sessions are most relevant to their mission, and how the event can help advance their agency's UAS program.

They'll also learn about emerging trends in public safety aviation, including DFR expansion, counter-UAS readiness, BVLOS implementation, AI-enabled operations, and the importance of developing sustainable drone program management practices.

If you are on the fence about attending the in-person summit in September, this webinar is a special opportunity to hear from those who develop the program, and to ask them questions directly about the sessions and workshops that will be offered on-site. Even if you don’t have plans to attend the in-person event, this webinar is still a valuable watch if you are a drone operator in the public safety sector. Overall DRONERESPONDERS’ goal is to educate, train, and connect the industry with UAS knowledge that will help protect communities.

“DRONERESPONDERS exists to connect practitioners, share knowledge, and help agencies learn from one another. Some of the most innovative public safety drone programs in the country started small. What matters most is building a safe, sustainable, and mission-focused program that serves your community.”