The evolution of commercial drones and security is an awareness and educational update on the precipitous growth of the commercial drone platform and its implications (positive and negative) on security professionals and the overall concept of security program development. Security professionals are at a point now where consideration for the “air domain” should be a major factor in their programs. The presentation will highlight commercial drones through the lens of recent conflict zone actions that have shown and proven that this technology is a security concern and creates risks that have not been addressed properly in the marketspace. The presentation will describe the short history of the commercial drone, discuss positive and negative implications for society, address what the future may hold, and recommend a simple framework to support a security professional understanding of the risk. This presentation will highlight the drone explosion in the Israel/Hamas and Ukraine/Russian Wars surrounding the use of the drone platform in all its different forms and capabilities. Attendees will walk away with an appreciation for the security implications and begin their journey to understanding how to mitigate the risk. Lastly, the presentation will address the current shortfalls in regulation and law surrounding drones and describe the difficulties with the counter uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) technologies and authorities implementing them.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Learn about the evolution of the sUAS and its implications on security programs.
• Learn about recent events and how the physical security perimeter has expanded to the air domain.
• Understand detection, monitoring, and visualization technologies and their limitations.
• Understand counter uncrewed aerial system technologies and their limitations.
• Introduce available training to help security professionals “get started” on an air domain program.

Speaker*

COLONEL (R) Bill Edwards, CPP, PSP, PCI, CPD is a well-respected Business Executive and Operations Strategist offering over 35 years of experience in operational/technical security, strategic planning, project management, intelligence program oversight, homeland security and defense, and organizational development. Bill is one of 265 people globally who have earned the ASIS “Triple Crown” certification standard for security and safety professionals.

Bill currently serves as President of Federal and Public Safety at Building Intelligence Inc. Before this role, Bill was a Principal in Protective Design and Security for Thornton Tomasetti; a globally recognized structural engineering firm. As an organizational leader, he has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s global footprint by providing strategic direction in the startup of a new security consultancy division focused on providing comprehensive security-driven risk mitigation approaches and business continuity solutions.

Before this, Bill served as the Director of Intelligence for the Special Operations Command North where he oversaw the successful unification of interagency communications in support of homeland defense. He additionally earned recognition for transforming a struggling $400M DoD technical intelligence program as the Capability Director for the US Army’s Intelligence Center, and served as a Commander in the U.S. Army, overseeing strategic military and intelligence operations in theatres across the globe.

From 2009 to 2011, Bill served as a Commander and Director of Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. In this highly complex leadership role, he oversaw a U.S. Army Battalion of 800, a $50MM operating and contract budget, and numerous governances, economic development, and security readiness programs. He additionally managed 2 major US. Base facilities, as well as numerous outposts, located throughout a geographic region comparable in size to the State of Kentucky. Lastly, he led the Brigade’s Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) network defeat operations.

Bill is a published author of, Inside Abu Ghraib: Memoirs of Two U.S. Military Intelligence Officers, and an editorial writer for Forbes, ASIS International, Security Industry Association (SIA), and Security Magazine. He is routinely invited to speak at nationally attended security industry symposiums. He holds two Master’s Degrees in National Security and Public Administration and most recently attended Harvard’s Executive Negotiations and Duke University’s Executive Leadership programs.

Bill has also created (3) adult learning classes to support education surrounding the small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS) technology (The Evolution of Drones in Society and Conflict). You can find them at his website: www.phoenix6consulting.com

Based on his strengths as a contextual leader, Bill has proven his ability to serve as an agent of change by identifying and resolving enterprise-level issues, creating identity, and harnessing the "power of the team". He has extensive experience in high-profile security projects in a myriad of markets.

*Note: Speakers and content are subject to change without notice.

Credit Information

Completion of this webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit. CPE credits for ASIS-sponsored webinars will be updated in your user profile within 48 hours of completion. Self-reporting of CPE credits is not required.