Officer J. “Matt” Rowland is a 20-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Police Department in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2017, he helped launch the department’s Air Support Unit, becoming one of its founding members and laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most forward-thinking public safety UAS programs in the country.

In 2024, Matt and his team made history by working with DRONERESPONDERS and the FAAto secure the first FAA approved Part 107 DFR Waiver—a milestone that opened doors for agencies nationwide to explore new operational capabilities. That achievement wasn’t just a win for Fort Wayne, it was a win for every public safety agency striving to innovate responsibly and effectively.

Lt. Abrem Ayana is a senior law enforcement leader and public safety innovator serving as Captain of Innovation, Technology, and Special Projects at the Brookhaven Police Department in Georgia. His career spans patrol, investigations, internal affairs, and executive-level leadership, with a focus on operational efficiency, modern policing strategies, and building community trust.

Throughout his career, Lt. Ayana has led high-performing teams across patrol, investigations, and administrative functions, earning recognition for integrating advanced technology into public safety operations. He played a key role in developing one of the nation’s earliest Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, significantly expanding real-time response capabilities through extensive UAS operations. He also led the implementation of a Mental Health Co-Responder Program and established a Real-Time Operations Center, advancing proactive, data-driven policing.

In addition to his work at the local level, Lt. Ayana has contributed to emergency response efforts, including deploying UAS resources to support disaster operations, providing aerial mapping, situational awareness, and operational support in complex environments.

Captain Michael Leo has been a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for 23 years. While earning a B.A. in Fire and Emergency Management at John Jay College, Michael studied the expanding role of uncrewed aircraft systems for use in emergency management. As the program administrator for FDNY Robotics, Michael’s responsibilities include all aspects of remotely operated robotics in addition to emerging technologies to support command tactics and operations. 

Michael served as a member of the Federal Aviation Administration’s advanced aviation advisory committee, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) small unmanned aircraft committee and ASTM International small aircraft committee.

Officer Brandon Karr is a law enforcement professional and nationally recognized leader in public safety unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), having served with the Pearland Police Department in Texas. During his tenure, he held roles including Chief Pilot and UAS Integrations Coordinator, where he was instrumental in building and scaling one of the nation’s most advanced public safety drone programs. His work helped integrate UAS operations into patrol, SWAT, K9, crash reconstruction, and crime scene response, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness and situational awareness.

In addition to his operational leadership, Officer Karr has been a driving force in advancing UAS adoption nationwide. He played a key role in developing early Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs and helped secure beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities for public safety use. He has assisted numerous agencies in building and expanding UAS programs, supported disaster response operations, and contributed to broader efforts shaping modern public safety drone integration.