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Federal Partners

Above the Chaos: Lessons from UAS Teams on the Front Lines

Sunday, August 2, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 221 A

CEU: 1

Level of Presentation: Beginner
Target Audience: 9-1-1 Coordinator, County/State Official, Engineer/ Technician, Manager, Supervisor, Director, Information Systems, Sworn Officers (Chiefs), Public Safety Telecommunicator

Main Presenter(s)

Jennifer Harder, Dr

Director
First Responder Network Authority
Boulder, Colorado

Co-Presenter(s)

Ryan Cobb

Texas Game Warden
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Brian Edinger

UAS Program Coordinator in the Statewide Aviation, Remote Sensing Lab
State of Alaska DOT & Public Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska

Central Texas has faced repeated and devastating natural disasters, testing the resilience of communities and readiness of public safety agencies. This panel will look at how UAS teams were deployed in response to those disasters and provide real world examples of the successes and lessons learned for coordination, collaboration, communication solutions, and the evolving role of technology in disaster response. Panelists will share insights that are shaping more adaptive, informed, and community-centered approaches to disaster preparedness across the region.
Learning Objectives:
Learn how UAS teams were deployed during major Central Texas disasters and evaluate their impact on response effectiveness.
Attendees will identify key lessons learned in coordination, collaboration, and communication when integrating UAS into disaster response operations
Understand how emerging technologies and real-world experiences are informing more adaptive, community-centered approaches to disaster preparedness and resilience.