New programs blend emerging technology with leadership skills
Preparedness goes far beyond stocking emergency supplies. It also means educating the professionals and organizations that must make critical decisions before, during, and after emergencies. As technology transforms public safety and emergency management, effective preparedness increasingly depends on both innovative tools and leaders who understand how to use them effectively.
When Justin J. Baumgartner, PhD, became one of the first drone pilots for his Colorado police department a decade ago, the technology still had to prove its civil value. Today, as a faculty member who helped developed public safety programs at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), he has watched drones become a common tool for everything from accident reconstruction to search-and-rescue missions, helping first responders gather critical information.
At UMGC, that evolution is reflected in programs designed to help public safety professionals develop both technical expertise and leadership skills for a rapidly changing field.
A year of growth for drone education
A year after its launch, UMGC's online Drones & Autonomous Systems Undergraduate Certificate is attracting interest beyond the public safety and emergency management audiences it was originally designed to serve. Students are enrolling not only to learn how drones are transforming the fields of law enforcement and disaster response, but also to explore applications ranging from real estate and construction to wildlife research.
One student, for example, told Baumgartner they hoped to use drones to study penguin migration patterns in Antarctica. Indeed, Baumgartner, who helped develop the program and teaches courses, said the variety of student interests has been one of the biggest surprises.
“The number of students that are just blowing my mind with their thoughts and how they want to utilize drones in the future … and how they are going to be a part of the advancement of the industry, is amazing,” he said.
The program combines core drone coursework with electives in areas including criminal justice, public safety, homeland security, and emergency management. Students can learn about regulations, ethics, policy development, and emerging technologies. A new FAA Part 107 preparation course is also being developed to help students pursue the license required for drone operations.
In its first year, the program drew hundreds of students into drone-related courses, reflecting interest in learning about autonomous systems. As Baumgartner put it, "There's a need and a want for this information and it goes far beyond anything we could have ever expected."
That interest mirrors the expanding use of drones across public safety, industry, and research settings.
How drones are changing emergency response
Public safety agencies now use drones to support search-and-rescue operations, document crash scenes, assess hazards, and provide real-time information during emergencies. Those capabilities can help leaders make more informed decisions when resources and time are limited.
For Christopher Swain, JD, portfolio director of UMGC's criminal justice and public safety programs, a core value of drones lies in what they provide before responders commit personnel and equipment.
“The intelligence that the drone gives for how to use resources is huge,” he said.
That situational awareness can be especially valuable during disasters and other rapidly evolving incidents, where understanding conditions on the ground may help agencies allocate resources more effectively. Combined with training in emergency management, public safety, and leadership, drone technology has become an increasingly important part of the toolkit.
Why leadership still matters
As drones and emerging technologies reshape public safety, experts like Swain and Baumgartner say effective preparedness still depends on people. The ability to communicate, adapt, and make sound decisions during a crisis remains just as important as technological tools responders have at their disposal.
That idea helped inspire UMGC's new Master of Science in Public Safety Leadership, which combines leadership fundamentals with discipline-specific coursework for professionals in fields such as law enforcement. According to Swain, the program was designed to help public safety professionals strengthen the leadership and decision-making skills needed in complex and often unpredictable situations.
While technology can provide valuable information, it cannot replace human judgment or interpersonal skills.
“You must have those human skills. Technology can't solve everything,” Swain said. “It can't reach out to you and make a human connection.”
Preparing for emergencies also requires understanding what is available and building relationships before a crisis occurs.
As Swain noted, "You can't learn what resources are available to you when the emergency is there. You must know what you have going in."
Together, programs such as the Drones & Autonomous Systems certificate and the Public Safety Leadership master's reflect a broader approach to preparedness: pairing innovative technology with the leadership, communication, and decision-making skills needed to put it to effective use.
Preparing for what comes next
Preparing for emergencies means more than responding to today's challenges. It also requires understanding how evolving technologies may shape public safety, emergency management, and other fields.
UMGC is helping students build technical expertise alongside the leadership skills needed to adapt as new technologies emerge. The emphasis is not only on preparedness, but also on adapting to change.
For Baumgartner, one of the most exciting aspects of the program is exposing students to where the industry may be headed next.
“The strides that it took in 10 years, these technologies are only getting better and evolving faster,” he said.
UMGC's public-safety programs emphasize the importance of sound leadership and decision-making. The goal is to prepare professionals who can evaluate emerging tools, understand their implications, and apply them responsibly when communities need them most.
September is National Preparedness Month. Learn more about how UMGC students are helping strengthen flood resilience in Garrett County, Maryland, and how a Mongomery County Police Department Captain shares his drone knowledge with UMGC students as an instructor.