Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.

Mississippi State University as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for ASSURE available on Grants.gov for information on the Criteria for Selecting Proposals associated with ASSURE.

Fiscal year 2025: 4 courses certified -Introduction to UAS Flight Ops for Emergency Response- Introduction to UAS Data Analytics for Emergency Response- UAS Flight Ops for Emergency Response Level II UAS Data Analytics for Emergency Response Level II 175 students trained 24 courses delivered. Fiscal year 2026: 4 courses certified, no new courses Anticipated Training: -700 students trained (10 students per course minimum)- 70 courses delivered (8 courses are to be Mobile Training)- 13 courses already delivered- 92 students already trained 8-10 speaking engagements 8-10 conference attendances