Public safety leaders discuss interoperability, information sharing, and operational readiness
At the DRONERESPONDERS National Conference held in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 10, 2026, a panel of public safety, policy, and event-security leaders discussed the growing challenge of counter-UAS operations for large-scale public events. DRONERESPONDERS is a global nonprofit program focused on advancing public safety UAS, counter-UAS (cUAS), and Advanced Air Mobility.
The panel brought together representatives from law enforcement, federal agencies, industry policy groups, and international event organizers to explore how agencies are preparing for increasingly complex drone security environments. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, speakers emphasized that coordination, training, and interoperability will play a critical role in protecting large public gatherings.
Moderator Michelle Duquette of 3 MAD Air Consulting led the discussion with panelists Mike Torphy of the FBI, Sgt. Chris Bees of the Irvine, California Police Department, Tiara Brown of FIFA, Liz Forro of Hogan Lovells and the Commercial Drone Alliance, and Jason Day, Deputy Director of Training for DRONERESPONDERS.
Preparing for a Global Event
Panelists described preparations for the World Cup as both complex and unprecedented. The event will take place across multiple countries and jurisdictions, requiring coordination between local, state, federal, and international stakeholders.
Mike Torphy compared the process to building something entirely new.
“It feels like we’re in a tech startup,” he said. “We’re doing something for the first time. We’re trying to operationalize what we’ve done previously and package it in a way that’s accessible for people who don’t do this full time.”
For local law enforcement agencies, the path toward counter-drone readiness often begins with operational experience. Sgt. Chris Bees explained that Irvine Police Department first encountered drone-related challenges during routine deployments.
“We started seeing ‘careless and clueless’ people interfering with operations,” Bees said. “With FIFA, we now have more than just the ability to remind someone politely that they shouldn’t be there.
For the World Cup, we’re going to be those extra bodies and those extra resources for host cities, and in future we’ll be able to work together with other regional departments in partnership.”
For FIFA, integrating drone management into event planning has required coordination across multiple stakeholders.
Tiara Brown said that early conversations about airspace security began with participating teams wanting to use drones for legitimate purposes such as broadcasting or entertainment.
“We started because the teams wanted to fly drones, and we had to network, communicate, and educate ourselves on what that meant,” she said. “We’ve needed to figure out who can fly legally – our broadcasting, military flyovers, teams – and what they can do, from the entertainment side to the security side.”
Brown said that their planning efforts are focused on making sure everyone understands the rules and procedures involved.
“We plan to be the central whitelisting source for every element that wants to fly an aircraft near a World Cup,” she said. “We’re not there to tell you if you can or can’t fly, but we’re equipping [flyers] with the resources and providing the rules so they know how it works.”
Standing Up a Counter-UAS Site, Information Sharing
Operational preparation involves detailed site assessments and coordination with federal authorities. Panelists explained that establishing a counter-UAS capability at an event requires careful planning and information sharing.
Torphy noted that federal agencies conduct detailed assessments before establishing a counter-UAS deployment at a specific location. Ensuring that local field offices and responding agencies have accurate situational awareness is a key part of that process.
Training tools are also evolving to support these operations. The panel discussed the growing use of Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) platforms, a government-developed situational awareness system that allows agencies to share real-time operational data.
At the DRONERESPONDERS counter-UAS training center, Torphy said that participants receive focused instruction on how these tools can support coordinated operations.
Jason Day said DRONERESPONDERS has also helped create a TAK Working Group to ensure public safety agencies can effectively share information.
“It’s about taking the education and training that has been gathered and making it useful for all of public safety,” Day said. “How do we take all of that information and make it available?”
According to Day, the platform has become an effective tool when multiple agencies need to share operational information in real time.
Interoperability and Industry Collaboration
From the industry perspective, Liz Forro emphasized that interoperability between technologies will be essential for successful counter-UAS operations.
She noted that the industry is beginning to see similar challenges to those faced during the early days of drone integration.
“Agencies have multiple drone solutions to address different problems,” Forro said. “Now there will be different counter-drone solutions to address different problems.”
As a result, interoperability between systems has become a major focus.
“There is no silver bullet,” Forro said. “There is no one technology that will protect a big event. We are going to need multiple tools that work together.”
Forro said companies are increasingly recognizing the need to collaborate and offer integrated solutions rather than standalone technologies.
Training, Communication, and Enforcement
Across the panel, speakers returned repeatedly to the importance of training and communication.
Brown described the scale of coordination required for the World Cup, which will take place across three countries.
“The coordination that’s required between the different levels is incredible,” she said. “There are three host countries, but it’s one World Cup.”
FIFA has been working with national, state, and local agencies to understand existing drone policies and connect jurisdictions that have established programs with those still developing their procedures. “We find ourselves at the center of connection and communication,” Brown said.
On the operational side, Sgt. Bees highlighted the importance of Ground Intercept Teams, or GIT. While detection technologies can identify unauthorized drones, he explained that enforcement often depends on quickly locating the pilot.
“Detecting the drone is one thing, but if we can’t get to the pilot in time, it doesn’t help,” he said.
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly using their own drones to locate operators of unauthorized aircraft. Officers can then use loudspeakers to instruct pilots to land safely.
Bees also emphasized the importance of advance communication to prevent violations. “We’re trying to let people know in advance that they cannot fly drones in the restricted area,” he said.
Lessons for the Future
While the World Cup represents an unprecedented challenge, panelists emphasized that the work being done today will benefit public safety agencies long after the event concludes.
Brown encouraged jurisdictions to share lessons learned and avoid developing drone programs in isolation.
“Everyone from within a state, at least, should communicate,” she said.
Day added that one major challenge remains the lack of centralized data for identifying repeat drone violations or emerging threats.
“All of the data exists,” he said. “We just don’t have a free central repository that public safety can use.”
For Torphy, the key lesson from the planning process is simple.
“You cannot over communicate, you cannot over plan,” he said. “There is so much going on.”
Brown agreed, noting that the planning effort itself is breaking new ground.
“What we’re doing here is unprecedented,” she said. “The laws are new, the technology is new, the process is new.” But the experience, she added, will leave a lasting legacy for public safety professionals.
“After the World Cup is over, you are still going to be here,” Brown said. “You’ll be able to take these notes and learn from this.”
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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