DRONERESPONDERS Collaborates with Commercial UAV Expo to Share FIFA Insights
Commercial UAV Expo has announced the introduction of the DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course and the complete agenda for the 2026 DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit. Both events will take place at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas from September 1-3, 2026. The course is organized by DRONERESPONDERS and produced by AIRT.
FIFA World Cup Counter-UAS Lessons Headline the Summit
Organizers report that the FBI has confiscated over 600 drones from restricted airspace in the 11 U.S. cities hosting the World Cup since the tournament began on June 11. Federal agencies have identified more than 1,000 drones operating near event venues, with matches continuing until the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. This airspace security initiative will inform a two-part Summit session titled “Lessons Learned from FIFA World Cup cUAS Response.” Federal officials indicate that this effort is laying the groundwork for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, supported by a $250 million FEMA counter-UAS grant to the host states.
Adrianne Madden, event director of Commercial UAV Expo, stated, “The World Cup has become one of the most visible stress tests yet for public safety airspace management in the United States.” She emphasized the importance of attendees having “a direct line to the people who lived that response.”
Public Safety Summit Sessions
The 2026 program will feature two days of panels aimed at law enforcement, fire, EMS, search and rescue, emergency management, and transportation agencies. Key sessions include:
- State of Public Safety UAS Operations
- Fire Service Drone Operations Across the Country, featuring speakers from FDNY, Phoenix Fire Department, CAL FIRE, and Metro Fire
- A Texas DOT session on bridge inspections and crash-scene documentation
- A shared-airspace panel with representatives from DroneSense by Versaterm, ANRA Technologies, Zipline, and Wing
Additional topics will cover Drone as First Responder scaling, BVLOS operations, AI-enabled workflows, and evolving training standards.
New Program Management Course for 2026
The DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course is designed as a two-day training for public safety and government professionals involved in developing and managing UAS programs. The first day will address program management, training frameworks, standard operating procedures, regulatory considerations, safety management systems, and maintenance. The second day will focus on interagency collaboration, data-driven tools, leadership strategies, emerging technologies, and integration with Advanced Air Mobility. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.
Jason Day, deputy director of DRONERESPONDERS, noted, “Too many public safety UAS programs plateau because the people running them were handed a mission without a playbook.” He added that the course aims to provide “a structured path from foundation to full operational maturity.”