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Drone Thought Leadership Summit

A Summit for Public Safety Leaders
August 25–26, 2025
UVA Northern Virginia
8095 Innovation Park Drive
Falls Church, VA 22042

About This Summit

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Cover Photo

The Public Safety Drone Summit, co-hosted by the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice (CPSJ) and DRONERESPONDERS, brings together leading voices from law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, and aviation policy to explore the rapidly evolving role of drones in public safety operations.

This two-day event is designed as a comprehensive, practitioner-driven forum for agencies across the country to engage in dynamic discussions, share real-world case studies, and experience live demonstrations of cutting-edge drone technology. From tactical deployments and first responder integration models to urban airspace coordination and counter-UAS strategies, the summit offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from field-tested experts and national thought leaders.

Participants will gain insight into:

  • Emerging drone applications across policing, fire, and EMS.
  • Operational models for Drone as a First Responder (DFR) programs.
  • Critical regulatory updates and FAA guidance.
  • Funding, implementation, and sustainability of drone units.
  • Legal, ethical, and privacy considerations.
  • Detection and mitigation of hostile or unauthorized drones.

Whether your agency is exploring a drone program or expanding an existing one, this summit offers valuable perspectives, practical tools, and peer networking to support safe, effective, and innovative drone deployment in service to your community.

Who Should Attend

This summit is designed for public safety professionals involved in the planning, deployment, or oversight of drone operations. Ideal attendees include law enforcement executives, fire and EMS leaders, emergency management personnel, UAS program managers, aviation coordinators, policy makers, and IT or legal advisors supporting public safety technology. Whether your agency is exploring drone integration or already running an established program, this event offers valuable insights, practical guidance, and peer networking to help you expand capabilities, ensure compliance, and enhance mission effectiveness.

Agenda

Filter by:
Day
Day 1: August 25, 2025
Day 2: August 26, 2025
Day One
Day Two
Time
Session
Speakers
8:00 AM–9:00 AM

Check-In

Registration and check-in open

9:00 AM–9:15 AM

Welcome & Summit Overview

  • Marvin Haiman Headshot

    Marvin “Ben” Haiman

    Executive Director, Center for Public Safety and Justice

    Mr. Marvin Haiman is an Assistant Professor and the Executive Director of Public Safety and Justice at the University of Virginia. He is also a Visiting Fellow and Research Scholar with Rutger’s University. Haiman served as the Chief of Staff for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. between 2021 and 2024. In this capacity, Haiman oversaw daily operations of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and was responsible for broad agency management and implementing strategic agency objectives.

    Haiman was responsible for several organizational units including the Office of Communications, Office of General Counsel, Office of Wellness and the Professional Development Bureau. He served as the Executive Director of the Professional Development Bureau between 2017 – 2021, leading the Recruiting Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Human Resource Management Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Testing and Assessment Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Division, Office of Communications and the Strategic Engagement Office (Volunteer Services).

    Prior to being named Executive Director, Haiman served in a variety of capacities between 2015-2017, including developing the agency’s Office of Volunteer Coordination, serving as Chief of Staff for the Technical Services Division tasked with a broad range of IT operations, and Chief of Staff for the Strategic Services Bureau supporting and leading the administration of police recruitment, training, policy and volunteer service matters for the Department.

    Prior to returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Haiman served as Director for the Homeland Security Advisory Council for the United States Department of Homeland Security, where he established several key task forces for the Secretary (e.g., Foreign Fighters, Integrity & Use of Force). Prior to his Federal service, Haiman led the Recruiting Division for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., among various other positions. Haiman was responsible for restructuring the sworn hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it took to process candidates while increasing the quality of those officers hired.

    Haiman graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in management through the Police Executive Leadership Program. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received designation as a Certified Public Management Program through George Washington University, as well as certification in Strategic Project Management. Haiman is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leadership Program. He received recognition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2020 as a 40 under 40 recipient and the prestigious Gary P. Hayes Award by the Police Executive Research Forum. Haiman graduated from the Metropolitan Police Academy and continues his police service as a reserve police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Haiman resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

  • Charles Werner Headshot

    Charles L. Werner

    Fire Chief (Ret.), Charlottesville VA Fire Department

    Chief Charles L. Werner (Ret.) has served 50 years in public safety. Charles served 37 years with the Charlottesville VA Fire Department; during the last ten years of that service, he was fire chief. Charles has had many leadership roles at the local, state, national and international level. He presently serves as Founder/Director for DRONERESPONDERS: with over 11,000 members that includes participation from 92 countries, DRONERESPONDERS has become the largest and leading nonprofit program to advance public safety UAS that focused on drones for good (countering UAS, UTM and AAM). Charles also serves as a public safety representative on the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility Alliance. In 2023, Charles joined the Virginia Department of Aviation as aviation technology advisor to work in the public safety areas of UAS, CUAS and AAM. 

9:15 AM–10:15 AM

Session 1: The Landscape of Drones in Public Safety

This opening panel sets the stage by exploring the current and emerging landscape of drone use across public safety disciplines. Panelists will share insights into how drones are being deployed for law enforcement, fire, and emergency response operations, highlighting real-world applications, evolving technologies, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. The session will also address key challenges such as community trust, data transparency, and integration into traditional response models. 

  • Charles Werner Headshot

    Charles L. Werner

    Fire Chief (Ret.), Charlottesville VA Fire Department

    Chief Charles L. Werner (Ret.) has served 50 years in public safety. Charles served 37 years with the Charlottesville VA Fire Department; during the last ten years of that service, he was fire chief. Charles has had many leadership roles at the local, state, national and international level. He presently serves as Founder/Director for DRONERESPONDERS: with over 11,000 members that includes participation from 92 countries, DRONERESPONDERS has become the largest and leading nonprofit program to advance public safety UAS that focused on drones for good (countering UAS, UTM and AAM). Charles also serves as a public safety representative on the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility Alliance. In 2023, Charles joined the Virginia Department of Aviation as aviation technology advisor to work in the public safety areas of UAS, CUAS and AAM. 

10:15 AM–11:00 AM

Session 2: Tactical Deployments Across Agencies

Presenters will examine how drones are being used in both exterior and interior operations, including building searches, crowd monitoring, and scene reconstruction. Attendees will gain practical insights into deployment strategies, mission planning, and lessons learned from real incidents, offering valuable takeaways for agencies looking to enhance their operational capabilities.

11:15 AM–12:15 PM

Session 3: Drone as a First Responder – Operational Models

This session explores innovative Drone as a First Responder (DFR) programs, highlighting operational models that enable drones to arrive on scene ahead of traditional units. Presenters will share deployment strategies, response workflows, and lessons learned from active DFR programs across the country.

12:15 PM–1:15 PM

Networking Lunch

1:15 PM–2:00 PM

Session 4: Emergency Response Beyond Policing

This session highlights how fire and emergency services are leveraging drones for critical missions such as fireground imaging, hazardous materials assessment, and the evaluation of suspicious packages. Speakers will share practical use cases that demonstrate how drones enhance scene safety, improve situational awareness, and support specialized response teams.

2:15 PM–3:00 PM

Session 5: Major Metro Deployment Models

This session features leaders from major metropolitan agencies discussing the deployment of drone programs at scale in complex urban environments. Panelists will address challenges related to airspace coordination, policy development, and integrating drone operations into densely populated cities.

2:45 PM–3:30 PM

Session 6: The regulatory landscape of drones for public safety

This session provides a focused overview of the current regulatory framework governing public safety drone operations, including FAA waivers, Certificates of Authorization (COAs), and recent policy developments. Experts will discuss emerging trends and anticipated changes that may impact how agencies plan, deploy, and sustain their drone programs.

3:45 PM–4:30 PM

Session 7: Building and Sustaining a Drone Program

This session offers practical guidance on launching and maintaining a successful public safety drone program, covering key topics such as budgeting, staffing, training, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Speakers will share strategies for long-term sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and measuring program impact.

4:30 PM–5:30 PM

Live Drone Demonstrations & Equipment Showcase

Live flyovers, vendor displays, and DFR equipment demos.

8:15 AM–9:00 AM

Morning Coffee & Networking

9:00 AM–9:45 AM

Session 1: Legislative Landscape

9:45 AM–11:15 AM

Session 2: Vendor Capability Demonstrations

11:15 AM–12:00 AM

Session 3: Countering Drone Threats

This session examines the growing need to detect and mitigate unauthorized or malicious drones. Experts will discuss current counter-UAS technologies, operational strategies, and the legal boundaries public safety agencies must navigate when responding to drone threats.

12:00 PM–1:00 PM

Session 4: Town Hall – Open Forum

Interactive discussion on challenges, policy gaps, and collaboration.

1:00 PM–1:15 PM

Closing Reflections & Next Steps

Summary of takeaways and future training engagement.

  • Marvin Haiman Headshot

    Marvin “Ben” Haiman

    Executive Director, Center for Public Safety and Justice

    Mr. Marvin Haiman is an Assistant Professor and the Executive Director of Public Safety and Justice at the University of Virginia. He is also a Visiting Fellow and Research Scholar with Rutger’s University. Haiman served as the Chief of Staff for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. between 2021 and 2024. In this capacity, Haiman oversaw daily operations of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and was responsible for broad agency management and implementing strategic agency objectives.

    Haiman was responsible for several organizational units including the Office of Communications, Office of General Counsel, Office of Wellness and the Professional Development Bureau. He served as the Executive Director of the Professional Development Bureau between 2017 – 2021, leading the Recruiting Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Human Resource Management Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Testing and Assessment Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Division, Office of Communications and the Strategic Engagement Office (Volunteer Services).

    Prior to being named Executive Director, Haiman served in a variety of capacities between 2015-2017, including developing the agency’s Office of Volunteer Coordination, serving as Chief of Staff for the Technical Services Division tasked with a broad range of IT operations, and Chief of Staff for the Strategic Services Bureau supporting and leading the administration of police recruitment, training, policy and volunteer service matters for the Department.

    Prior to returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Haiman served as Director for the Homeland Security Advisory Council for the United States Department of Homeland Security, where he established several key task forces for the Secretary (e.g., Foreign Fighters, Integrity & Use of Force). Prior to his Federal service, Haiman led the Recruiting Division for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., among various other positions. Haiman was responsible for restructuring the sworn hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it took to process candidates while increasing the quality of those officers hired.

    Haiman graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in management through the Police Executive Leadership Program. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received designation as a Certified Public Management Program through George Washington University, as well as certification in Strategic Project Management. Haiman is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leadership Program. He received recognition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2020 as a 40 under 40 recipient and the prestigious Gary P. Hayes Award by the Police Executive Research Forum. Haiman graduated from the Metropolitan Police Academy and continues his police service as a reserve police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Haiman resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

Venue & Travel Information

Event venue

UVA Northern Virginia 
8095 Innovation Park Drive  
Fairfax, VA 22031

Lodging options

Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park 
3111 Fairview Park Drive  
Falls Church, VA 22042

Airports

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | ~17 miles 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) | ~22 miles 

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) | ~47 miles 

Room block

A room block has been reserved at $129 per night + taxes at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park. All bookings must be made by August 1, 2025.

Sponsors

Sponsoring Organizations

DroneResponders
DRONERESPONDERS