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Partnering Technology and First Responders

Virginia Public Safety Innovation Center

The mission of the Public Safety Innovation Center is to assist with the development and implementation of new and/or improved technology for use by public safety emergency responders at the local, state, and federal level.

Our purpose is to investigate and promote new technology for use by public safety entities as well as assist with research, development, proof of concept, and applicability of new technology with federal partners, manufacturers, and others.

Featured Events

Drone Responders National UAS Public
Safety Conference

Our Goals

  1. Establish relationships for the exchange of concepts and best practices between the PSIC and other public safety organizations such as local responders, state agencies, commercial or non-profit groups, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal government agencies/entities
  2. Seek out and assess new innovative technologies that could potentially aid and benefit public safety practitioners.
  3. Assist in the development, testing, and validation of new technologies and equipment.
  4. Identify, facilitate, and support new initiatives and pilot projects that will further the transition to practice and use of innovative technologies for public safety.
  5. Identify and help implement and deliver public safety training, primarily around new technologies and capabilities.
  6. Provide and/or coordinate provision of public safety Subject Matter Expertise (SME) to local and state public safety and other government entities in the Commonwealth.
  7. Continue to build upon the relationship with the Commonwealth Virginia Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Secretariat and the federal Department of Homeland Security to advance public safety across various areas to include use of drones, specialized training activities, operational experimentation, IoT, and related technologies, emerging activities relating to Port security and safety, and other public safety centric technology advancement.

Virginia Public Safety Innovation Center

Board of Advisors

Tim Doyle

Lieutenant,
Norfolk FD/PD Bomb Squad and SWAT

Tracy Freeman

Manager of the Maritime Incident Response
Team, Virginia Port Authority

Mike Keefe

Chief of UAS & Disaster Comms,
VA Dept. of Emergency Management

David Hoback

Fire Chief,
Roanoke City Fire Department
(Appointed by the VA Fire Chief’s Association)

David “DJ" Smith

Technical Surveillance Agent, UAS/cUAS
Program Manager Virginia State Police

Brian Sullivan

Battalion Chief/Task Force Leader,
VA Beach FD
(FEMA VA-TF2 Urban Search and Rescue)

Charles Werner

Fire Chief (Retired),
Charlottesville Fire Dept. Director,
DRONERESPONDERS

Karen Owens

Director,
Emergency Operations Division
Virginia Office of EMS

Matthew Hanley

Lieutenant Colonel, Virginia State Police

Paul B. Davenport

RN, MBA, NREMTP-Ret., CMTE, Vice President, Emergency Services & Care Management, Carilion Clinic

Jamey Brads

Chief of Training and Operations,
Virginia Department of Fire Programs

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