Dronecast: Rethinking Public Safety, One Drone at a Time

• Shaping the Future—Legislation, Innovation & Force Multiplication

  In this release of DroneCast, host Joe Kearns sits down with DJ Smith — recently retired from the Virginia State Police after 31 years of service and now part of Amazon Global’s SPEAR STT organization. A national leader in counter-drone operations, DJ reflects on his decades in technical surveillance and how his expertise continues to shape CUAS innovation and airspace security in the private sector. He discusses the urgent need for smarter drone legislation, the growing threat of unauthorized drone activity, and how innovation continues to safeguard the skies — and those who serve beneath them.

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• From Tech Surveillance to Counter-Drone Innovation

  In this Veterans Day release of DroneCast, host Joe Kearns sits down with DJ Smith — recently retired from the Virginia State Police after 31 years of service and now part of Amazon Global’s SPEAR STT organization. A national leader in counter-drone operations, DJ reflects on his decades in technical surveillance and how his expertise continues to shape CUAS innovation and airspace security in the private sector. He discusses the urgent need for smarter drone legislation, the growing threat of unauthorized drone activity, and how innovation continues to safeguard the skies — and those who serve beneath them.

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• DFR at Scale: Implementation, Challenges, and the Path Forward

  In Part 2 of this DroneCast conversation, host Joe Kearns continues his discussion with Matt Sloane, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Skyfire AI, to explore what Drone as First Responder (DFR) at scale truly means in the wake of the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule. They examine how multi-agency collaboration, smarter cost-sharing, and advanced training infrastructures, such as Skyfire’s new 2,200-acre facility in Huntsville, Alabama, will accelerate adoption. Matt and Joe also address the cultural and technical challenges that prevent DFR programs from getting off the ground, emphasizing practical steps for mid-sized agencies to start small, stay compliant, and scale intelligently.

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• Decoding Part 108: The Future Framework for BVLOS Operations

  In Part 1 of this exciting DroneCast conversation, host Joe Kearns sits down with Matt Sloane, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Skyfire AI, to unpack the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule, a comprehensive framework for routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. Matt explains how this proposal could reshape drone regulations across public safety, commercial, and defense sectors, from standardizing BVLOS approvals to encouraging autonomy and organizational accountability. This episode sets the stage for what’s to come in Part 2, where Matt and Joe will go even deeper into the implications of autonomy, AI integration, and the evolution of DFR (Drone as First Responder) programs as Part 108 moves toward finalization.

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• Why Your Drone Program is Doomed to Fail (And How to Save It) with David Spraggs

  In Part 2 of this DroneCast conversation, Joe Kearns continues his discussion with David Spraggs, former bomb squad commander and current Manager of Customer Success at DroneSense. Building on Part 1, David dives deeper into practical strategies for launching and scaling public safety drone programs—covering communication, interagency collaboration, and the future of Drone as First Responder (DFR) initiatives. This episode offers a roadmap for agencies seeking to move beyond adoption into sustainable, mission-driven growth.

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