NCCON 2026 brings public safety drone leaders to NC State

By AI, Created 5:26 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – Registration is open for NCCON 2026, a two-day public safety UAS conference June 9-10 at North Carolina State University’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library in Raleigh. The event will focus on drone operations, counter-UAS, UTM and emerging aviation tools for public safety agencies, military and government partners.

Why it matters: - NCCON 2026 is designed to move public safety drone work from concept to field use. - The conference puts agencies, responders and industry in one place to compare operational practices, training standards and new aviation tools. - The agenda centers on missions that affect search and rescue, critical infrastructure protection and incident response.

What happened: - Registration opened for NCCON 2026, which runs June 9-10 at North Carolina State University’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library in Raleigh. - The conference is aimed at public safety leaders, government agencies, military representatives, academic partners and industry innovators. - NCCON is hosted in association with DRONERESPONDERS and the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT). - General admission is limited to public safety, military, Departments of Transportation, other government personnel and recognized volunteer public safety organizations. - Early registration is being encouraged because capacity is limited and interest is strong.

The details: - NCCON will feature expert-led sessions, real-world operational case studies, live technology demonstrations and peer collaboration. - Planned topics include UAS, counter-UAS, UTM and emerging aviation solutions. - North Carolina Emergency Management will lead a session called “The Future of Public Safety UAS in North Carolina.” - That session will cover how UAS support urban, swiftwater, mountain and wilderness search and rescue missions. - The session will also address partnerships, training standards, operational considerations and future roadmap priorities. - Charles Laird, technology specialist with North Carolina’s FirstTech Program, will present “TAK 101” and “Why TAK and Drones.” - His session will focus on how Team Awareness Kit supports situational awareness, coordination, accountability and responder safety. - A counter-UAS panel will include representatives from the Winston-Salem Police Department and Wake County Emergency Management. - That panel will examine critical infrastructure protection, tactical operations and incident response. - The panel will also discuss regulatory hurdles, integration issues, false positives and coordination among cUAS partners. - DRONERESPONDERS describes itself as the world’s leading nonprofit program advancing public safety UAS, counter-UAS and advanced air mobility. - AIRT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the parent organization and official home of DRONERESPONDERS. - AIRT focuses on Drones For Good and AAM For Good for public safety, emergency response, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - DRONERESPONDERS provides training, data-driven insights, operational best practices and collaboration opportunities for first responders using drone technology. - AIRT also supports public safety, emergency response, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. - A social media link included in the release points to the program’s LinkedIn showcase.

Between the lines: - The lineup suggests public safety agencies are looking for practical guidance, not just equipment demos. - The inclusion of counter-UAS and TAK sessions signals a broader shift toward integrated air and ground coordination. - Limiting attendance to government and public safety groups keeps the event tightly focused on operational use cases.

What’s next: - Attendees will use the June 9-10 conference to bring back training ideas, operating practices and technology insights to their organizations. - The event could also surface new partnerships among agencies, universities and vendors working in public safety aviation. - Early registration remains the safest path for organizations that want a seat at the conference.