Over the last decade, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or ‘drones’) have become a regular feature of American life, used for recreation, research, and commerce.
But the proliferation of this new technology has also introduced new risks to public safety, privacy, and homeland security.
Malicious actors have increasingly used UAS domestically to commit crimes, conduct illegal surveillance and industrial espionage, and thwart law enforcement efforts at the local, state, and Federal levels.
Throughout the U.S. and worldwide, we are also seeing more and more public safety professionals launching UAS into the sky during various types of emergencies and critical incidents.
To counter the growing threats of rogue drones, please let me introduce DRONERESPONDERS, a non-profit program created to unite these new aerial first responders, emergency managers, and search and rescue (SAR) specialists under a unified organization to help them to learn, train, and test with one another, with the ultimate objective of maximizing drone operations for public safety.
(Catch a glimpse as to why DRONERESPONDERS is the world’s fasted growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS! Courtesy of DRONERESPONDERS and YouTube.)
DRONERESPONDERS ranks are growing each day as more organizations embrace the use of UAS for public safety missions.
The DRONERESPONDERS program is led by Chief Charles Werner (ret.), who serves as the director, and is himself a 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winner for ‘Excellence in Public Safety.’
Chief Werner is a Public Safety Advisor & Chair of the National Council on Public Safety UAS (NCPSU), a former Founder and Chair of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Technology Council (IFAC), a Public Safety Advisor for the National Center for Security & Preparedness at the University at Albany, and Fire Chief Chair Emeritus for the City of Charlottesville, in North Carolina.
“The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards acknowledge and promote the best of the best, and DRONERESPONDERS is greatly honored to be selected for the Homeland Security Excellence Award,” shared Chief Charles Werner (Ret.), director DRONERESPONDERS
“DRONERESPONDERS is the leading and largest nonprofit program to promote public safety UAS with over 6500 members, participation from 83 countries, 1700 DRONERESPONDERS LinkedIn Connections, and over 1500 visits to the website.”
“DRONERESPONDERS hosts the largest online Resource Center and the Global Public Safety Drone Directory/Dashboard. Membership and all resources are FREE.”
WHO THEY ARE:
DRONERESPONDERS is a team of subject matter experts in various disciplines, which includes aviation, aerospace, photogrammetry, GIS and thermography, engineering, emergency management, public safety, telemedicine, trauma care, and more.
Do you operate or manage unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for public safety, emergency management, critical infrastructure inspections, or disaster assistance missions? If so, then you should consider joining DRONERESPONDERS.
There is no cost to join, and as a member, you will have access to DRONERESPONDERS research and information to help make your unmanned aviation operation more successful.
DRONERESPONDERS is an official 501(c)3 non-profit Drones for Good™ program of the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT), Inc.
DRONERESPONDERS ADVISORY TEAM
The DRONERESPONDERS Board of Advisors is comprised of many of the best and brightest minds engaged in UAS operations and program management for public safety.
Their job is to help ensure that DRONERESPONDERS serves the greater good as the premier source of public safety UAS research and knowledge.
To Learn More about DRONERESPONDERS, please visit www.droneresponders.org.
The Airborne International Response Team (AIRT) was founded with a single vision; to provide innovative airborne capabilities that help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters. Or simply stated; to #getup
If an earthquake strikes Peru, a tsunami hits Fiji, an F5 tornado plows through Oklahoma, or a major hurricane makes landfall somewhere in the Caribbean, or perhaps a child is lost in the woods as darkness approaches with frantic parents pleading for assistance: This is when AIRT members #getup!
(Learn more about how AIRT is providing innovative airborne capabilities to help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters. Courtesy of AIRT – Airborne International Response Team and YouTube.)
AIRT is building the World’s Largest Air Force®, a global network of specialized teams with the training and skills to accomplish mission-critical tasks across the preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery phases of significant events, complex emergencies, and major disasters.
The Airborne International Response Team rapidly assembles task forces and strike teams for pre-planned and emergency deployments based on the projected mission requirements for each mission.
With the support of their partners, AIRT bridges the gap between government, industry, and academia surrounding all phases of disaster management.
AIRT® is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Miami, Florida, USA, and the official home of the DRONERESPONDERS program supporting public safety UAS operations.
The organization’s volunteers bridge the gaps between government, industry, and academia by using innovative unmanned systems to help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters.
To Learn More about AIRT, please visit https://www.airt.ngo/.
Domestic Counter UAS National Action Plan
In April of this year the Biden Administration released a whole-of-government plan to address UAS threats in the Homeland.
Through the Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Action Plan, the Administration is working to expand where we can protect against nefarious UAS activity, who is authorized to take action, and how it can be accomplished lawfully.
The Plan seeks to achieve this legitimate expansion while safeguarding the airspace, communications spectrums, individual privacy, civil liberties and civil rights.
To achieve this balance, the Administration called on Congress to adopt legislation to close critical gaps in existing law and policy that currently impede government and law enforcement from protecting the American people and our vital security interests.
UAS serve many beneficial commercial and recreational purposes. As has been the case with many technological advances, they can also be exploited for pernicious purposes.
(Learn More. DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), also Recognized in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, is collaborating across DHS components to mitigate the growing threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to facilities related to critical infrastructure and national security. S&T is helping identify requirements, test equipment, and ultimately select the best Counter-UAS technology for the mission. Courtesy of DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)
To protect our Homeland and prevent their growing use from threatening the safety and security of our people, our communities, and our institutions, this Counter-UAS National Action Plan intends to set new ground rules for the expanding uses of UAS and improve our defenses against the exploitation of UAS for inappropriate or dangerous purposes.
According to The White House, the Plan provides eight key recommendations for action:
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Work with Congress to enact a new legislative proposal to expand the set of tools and actors who can protect against UAS by reauthorizing and expanding existing counter‑UAS authorities for the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense, State, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency and NASA in limited situations. The proposal also seeks to expand UAS detection authorities for state, local, territorial and Tribal (SLTT) law enforcement agencies and critical infrastructure owners and operators. The proposal would also create a Federally-sponsored pilot program for selected SLTT law enforcement agency participants to perform UAS mitigation activities and permit critical infrastructure owners and operators to purchase authorized equipment to be used by appropriate Federal or SLTT law enforcement agencies to protect their facilities;
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Establish a list of U.S. Government authorized detection equipment, approved by Federal security and regulatory agencies, to guide authorized entities in purchasing UAS detection systems in order to avoid the risks of inadvertent disruption to airspace or the communications spectrum;
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Establish oversight and enablement mechanisms to support critical infrastructure owners and operators in purchasing counter-UAS equipment for use by authorized Federal entities or SLTT law enforcement agencies;
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Establish a National Counter-UAS Training Center to increase training accessibility and promote interagency cross-training and collaboration;
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Create a Federal UAS incident tracking database as a government-wide repository for departments and agencies to have a better understanding of the overall domestic threat;
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Establish a mechanism to coordinate research, development, testing, and evaluation on UAS detection and mitigation technology across the Federal government;
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Work with Congress to enact a comprehensive criminal statute that sets clear standards for legal and illegal uses, closes loopholes in existing Federal law, and establishes adequate penalties to deter the most serious UAS-related crimes; and
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Enhance cooperation with the international community on counter‑UAS technologies, as well as the systems designed to defeat them.
(Learn More and hear directly from Charles Werner, Director of DRONERESPONDERS in this new interview on the Domestic Counter UAS National Action Plan and how can public safety organizations prepare for it. Courtesy of Drone Radio Show and YouTube. Posted on Oct 18, 2022.)
DRONERESPONDERS to be Honored in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
AST has officially Announced the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Finalists in our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ FINALISTS EDITION *Fully Interactive* Mobile Magazine Here.
Additionally, the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence and Public Safety Award Honorees have also been announced (Click Here), although there are several late-entry nominations still to be announced!
Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.
These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.
And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.
As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads over 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
(See highlights from the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in NYC. Courtesy of AST and Vimeo.)
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders – because #MentorshipMatters.
In addition, the First 100 Registered Attendees to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Ceremony and Banquet will receive a complimentary autographed copy of ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis‘ by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit.
Ms. Schweit offers insight into what we can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America.
Within the pages of STOP THE KILLING she provides us with an insider’s look at what we’ve learned and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools.
So Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon on November 16th, 2022, to reserve your copy!
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
The United States forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000-member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.
Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS),
New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, plus IPVideo Corporation, and
Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields, which included:
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
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ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)
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Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
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The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
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Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
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DHS Science & Technology (S&T)
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The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)
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The American Red Cross
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The InfraGard National Alliance
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The Metropolitan Police (MPD)
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The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
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Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)
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The Federal Air Marshals Service
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The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.
Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.
This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.
Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.
Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:
AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
