Retired Charlottesville, VA, Fire Chief Charles Werner, a frequent contributor to Firehouse Magazine, has been named a Person of the Year by Homeland Security Today for his work advancing the safety and use of drones in emergency response.
Werner, who retired in 2015 after 42 years in the fire service, is chairman of the National Council on Public Safety for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as chair of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee on UAS.
An FAA-certified UAS user and hobbyist, Werner is currently working to organize 21 state public safety UAS councils and serves on a number of UAS-related boards and commissions. He is also working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Wildland Fire Coordinating Group to develop emergency drone response strategies for natural disasters.
- Charles Werner Reflects on 20 Years with Firehouse
- Fire Technology: Drones Soar Following Hurricanes
- Drones: The Need for Counter Technology
“I am surprised, appreciative and humbled for such an honor," Werner told Firehouse. "This and other similar recognitions are from a culmination of work that I have done with others, and it is through these collaborations that great things are achieved. I share this award with my friends and colleagues across the country who are the true basis for these accomplishments.”
After his retirement, Werner served as senior adviser and acting deputy state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, where he developed their UAS program, and he chaired and founded the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Technology Council.
“When I was a firefighter, there were always hard-to-reach places we wanted to get to quickly, and we could’ve gotten there with a drone,” Werner said. “From hurricanes to forest fires and other natural disasters, you want to be able to know where help is needed and respond within as short a period of time as possible.”
Homeland Security Today is a nonprofit media outlet dedicated to informing and supporting the efforts of public, private, nonprofit, and academic organizations and practitioners engaged in the homeland security mission.
