DRONERESPONDERS Announces Oklahoma Public Safety Coordination Group (OKGRU)

State-level coordination group will bolster government and public safety UAS and AAM operations through enhanced collaboration.  

Williamsburg, Virginia — DRONERESPONDERS today announced the creation of the Oklahoma Public Safety Coordination Group (OKGRU), expanding its national network of state-level government and public safety unmanned aviation initiatives. The new state-level working group will bring together public safety professionals, government partners, and industry stakeholders to advance the safe and effective use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across Oklahoma. 

OKGRU will serve as a forum where public safety agencies can share best practices, discuss operational challenges, and explore emerging technologies supporting Drone as First Responder (DFR), aerial situational awareness, and other mission-critical public safety capabilities. 

The initiative is intended to strengthen communication and coordination among Oklahoma agencies while helping ensure public safety operators remain informed about evolving policies, airspace considerations, and technological developments impacting drone operations. 

“Oklahoma’s public safety community has always stepped up when it matters most. The formation of OKGRU strengthens that legacy by uniting our agencies, standardizing UAS capabilities, and ensuring we’re ready to support communities across the state with the highest level of professionalism and coordination,” said Jason L. Day, Deputy Director of Training at DRONERESPONDERS. 

OKGRU will be led by Scott Patton, Drone Coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety; Gabriel Graveline, Robotics Coordinator with the Tulsa Fire Department and Oklahoma Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue; and Doug Wood, State Manager for Advanced Air Mobility with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. The group will include participation from local law enforcement, fire departments, emergency management organizations, and other public safety stakeholders across Oklahoma. 

The group plans to hold quarterly meetings where participants can share operational insights, discuss regulatory developments, and identify opportunities to strengthen drone-supported public safety missions throughout the state. 

Through OKGRU, participating agencies will work together to strengthen public safety UAS programs by sharing best practices, improving coordination with aviation stakeholders, integrating drones into emergency response and disaster operations, and supporting training and information exchange across agencies. 

The announcement was made during the DRONERESPONDERS National Public Safety UAS Conference (NACON) in Williamsburg, Virginia, where public safety leaders from across the country gathered to discuss the future of unmanned systems, airspace integration, and operational readiness. 

The Oklahoma Working Group reflects DRONERESPONDERS’ continued commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and expanding the national public safety UAS community through working groups, training initiatives, and operational knowledge sharing. 

Additional details about participation in the Oklahoma Working Group will be announced in the coming months. 

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Brianna Alvarez, Program Manager, DRONERESPONDERS brianna.alvarez@droneresponders.org 

About DRONERESPONDERS 

DRONERESPONDERS is the world’s leading non-profit program advancing public safety UAS, cUAS, and Advanced Air Mobility. The program provides data-driven insights, training, and operational best practices for first responders implementing drone and advanced aviation technologies in emergency response, law enforcement, fire service and disaster operations. DRONERESPONDERS is an official program of AIRT, the leading 501(c)3 non-profit organization advancing Drones For Good® and AAM For Good®.