WASHINGTON — First responders, public-safety leaders and technology innovators gathered in August at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in downtown Washington for the one-day Mid-Atlantic Technology Summit. The event, hosted by Equipped Events and co-organized with Lexipol Media Group, promised a look ahead at how new tools and collaborative strategies are strengthening operational resilience across emergency services.
The event highlighted several takeaways for first responders and government officials:
- Technology adoption is accelerating across fire, EMS, police and emergency management agencies.
- Agencies are increasingly looking for practical solutions that reduce response times, enhance safety and streamline operations.
- Funding and credentialing remain foundational. Without sustainable budget models and standardized qualifications, even the best tech may falter.
- Collaboration between innovators and practitioners is essential and new tech has to meet real operational needs.
Public safety agencies are accelerating the deployment of new tools and not just experimenting, but moving into operational use. The summit noted that agencies are now seeking solutions that reduce response times, enhance safety and streamline operations
Keynote illustrates interoperability and innovation
District of Columbia Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Chenworth and Firefighter Jeffrey Lenard walked attendees through a complex multi-agency response to a mid-air collision over the Potomac River, highlighting how sonar tech aided in locating every victim. The pair stressed that the technological edge was only effective because of strong agency coordination.
Drones response and disruptive tech
In a session on “Drone as First Responder,” Nicholas Picerno of the Montgomery County Police Department showcased how deploying aerial drones early can cut response times and improve officer safety. In a broader address, Marvin Haiman of the Center for Public Safety & Justice at the University of Virginia discussed how disruptive technologies are changing communications, decision-making and field operations in the public safety domain.
Sustaining innovation through grants
Samantha Dorm, Director of Grants Assistance at Lexipol, delivered a popular session on navigating the grant landscape for public safety and emergency management agencies. Dorm emphasized that while funding opportunities abound, competition is tightening as more departments seek to modernize fleets, communications, and training systems. She urged agencies to plan now for national milestones, such as the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026, which will bring large-scale public events and increased operational demands. By developing strategic project plans and aligning them with federal or state funding priorities well in advance, Dorm said agencies can better position themselves for success.
Collaboration between innovators and users
A recurring theme was the importance of bridging the gap between technology developers and front-line responders. Technology must be developed with input from those who will use it, and agencies must partner with vendors, academics and others to ensure adoption is meaningful. This underscored that innovation isn’t just about the newest device but about the workflow, the culture, the people.
The focus of the Mid‑Atlantic Technology Summit 2025 was clear: accelerating adoption of scalable technologies, securing funding and fostering practitioner-innovator collaboration are critical to shaping the future of emergency response. Bringing together first responders, technology innovators and public-safety leaders explored how emerging tools and tech are transforming the way agencies tackle complex, real-world emergencies.
