Charles Werner is the retired Charlottesville fire chief and 46 year public safety veteran. After retirement, Charles worked with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for 2 years as senior advisor/acting deputy state coordinator. Charles served in numerous leadership roles at the local, state, national levels on public safety initiatives. Presently serves as Director-DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, Chair-National Council on Public Safety UAS, BOD - Airborne International Response Team, and appointed by Virginia Governor Northam to serve on the Secure & Resilient Commonwealth Panel and serve as Public Safety UAS Sub Panel Chair. Charles also serves on the International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Council. In 2004, he served two years as a reserve deputy sheriff with Albemarle County. Chief Werner is a FAA certificated Remote Pilot. Chief Werner also serves on the Virginia Center for Innovative Technologies Advisory Board. Charles is a contributing editor to Firehouse Magazine, Crisis Response Journal and an author with 150+ internationally published articles and serves as a contributor to numerous other public safety publications. Chief Werner has numerous commendations, three Virginia Governor’s Awards of Excellence, recognized as the National Career Fire Chief Award in 2008 and Homeland Security Today’s Person of the Year in 2018.
