The Realities of DFR: What's working, what's not, and your plan for what's next

Synopsis

Join Skydio’s Phil Gonshak for a candid conversation with public safety drone leaders Kabe Termes (Skydio) and Vern Sallee (Axon) as they trace the evolution of the Drone as First Responder (DFR) model—from its early beginnings in Chula Vista to today’s fully autonomous, dock-enabled deployments. They explore key lessons from pioneering DFR programs, discuss the growing role of drones as scalable infrastructure for cities, and highlight how Skydio’s X10 drone and Axon’s ecosystem are driving new standards in real-time awareness and operational efficiency. The session wraps with a live Q&A covering BVLOS waivers, transparency strategies, rural deployment challenges, and what’s next for DFR at scale.