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.
Our Goals
- 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
- Seek out and assess new innovative technologies that could potentially aid and benefit public safety practitioners.
- Assist in the development, testing, and validation of new technologies and equipment.
- Identify, facilitate, and support new initiatives and pilot projects that will further the transition to practice and use of innovative technologies for public safety.
- Identify and help implement and deliver public safety training, primarily around new technologies and capabilities.
- 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.
- 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 ResponseTeam, 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