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DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit Preview: Training, Innovation, and Excellence in UAS
On-demand Webinar | Free
Join DRONERESPONDERS for an exclusive preview of the Public Safety Summit at Commercial UAV Expo, where leaders in public safety UAS operations come together to share knowledge, advance training, and recognize excellence in the field.
This webinar will provide an inside look at the 2026 DRONERESPONDERS programming, highlighting key sessions, operational insights, and opportunities designed to support public safety drone teams at every level. Attendees will also get an overview of the new Program Managers Course, introduced this year to equip emerging and current UAS leaders with the tools needed to effectively manage and grow their programs.
In addition, we will spotlight the Eric Talley Memorial Award, which honors outstanding contributions to public safety UAS missions and leadership. Learn about the award’s significance and hear firsthand perspective from Matt Rowland, former Ft. Wayne Police Department member and last year’s award recipient.
Whether you’re planning to attend the Summit or looking to expand your agency’s UAS capabilities, this webinar will give you valuable insight into the training, community, and recognition opportunities shaping the future of public safety drone operations.
Speakers
Jason Day, Deputy Director, DRONERESPONDERS
Jason Day is the Director of Unmanned Aircraft at the Texas Department of Public Safety, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his 27-year tenure military, civilian, and public safety aviation. Widely recognized as a subject matter expert in the UAS community, Jason specializes in public safety UAS operations and administration.
In his role as Director, Jason oversees the largest public safety UAS program in the nation with over 370 remote pilots and unmanned aircraft. His primary responsibilities include ensuring compliance with FAA regulations, developing training standards and maintaining the highest levels of safety. Texas DPS stands out as the most active UAS program in the United States conducting 50,000 flights in 2024 and a remarkable 13,000 flight hours.
Matt Rowland, 2025 Eric Talley Award Recipient; Retired Ft. Wayne Police Department
Sgt. J. Matt Rowland (Retired) served with the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) for more than 21 years. Including his time as a reserve officer and public safety dispatcher, Matt dedicated more than 26 years to public safety before retiring in July 2026.
During his career with FWPD, Matt spent his first 15 years in the Operations Division, including six years as a hostage negotiator. He later served more than five years as a full-time member of the Air Support Unit. Matt was an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) certified instructor in both classroom instruction and emergency vehicle operations.
Matt was a founding member of the FWPD drone team and has held an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate since 2017 and has accumulated several hundred flight hours across multiple unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) platforms and software applications. Since 2018, he has specialized in using drones to map motor vehicle crashes and outdoor crime scenes.
In 2021, Matt played a key role in implementing the Fort Wayne Police Department's Drone First Responder (DFR) program. He is certified through the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) as both a NIST Basic and Advanced UAS Proctor. In 2025, he received the DroneResponders Eric Talley Public Safety UAS Excellence Award in recognition of his contributions to public safety aviation.
Throughout his time with FWPD, Matt remained active in community outreach, helping plan and coordinate more than 350 public demonstrations and educational events involving the Air Support Unit since 2018. He also serves as Second Vice President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Wayne Lodge 14.
Matt is an instructor with Unmanned Tactical Group (UTG) and is a Pix4D Certified Instructor. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Communications, with an emphasis in television production. Following his retirement from law enforcement, Matt joined the private sector full-time as a Product Training Specialist in the public safety drone industry.
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