From Officer to Drone Innovator: Chris Robertson’s Journey in Public Safety

Episode notes

In this 2-part episode of DroneCast: Rethinking Public Safety, One Drone at a Time, host Joe Kearns III speaks with Christopher Robertson, a public safety aviation professional whose career spans law enforcement operations, traditional manned aviation, and unmanned aerial systems. Drawing from this unique background, Chris shares how he has bridged the discipline of conventional aviation with modern UAS applications to transform tactical decision-making in public safety missions—especially in environments where terrain, visibility, and risk limit traditional approaches. For Part 1 Chris provides firsthand accounts of how drones have reshaped operations in the field, including a SWAT mission where a drone’s noise and visibility were deliberately used as a distraction, allowing officers to safely apprehend a suspect in dense, wooded terrain. He also recounts a high-angle rescue on Grey Rock, where drones delivered critical situational awareness before responders committed to hazardous rope systems over a 300-foot drop. The conversation further explores training and certification challenges within the drone industry.