Samatters Radio

  Charles Werner is the retired Charlottesville fire chief and 45-year public safety veteran. After retirement, Charles worked with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management from 2015 - 2017 as senior advisor/acting deputy state coordinator. Charles served in numerous leadership roles at the local, state, national levels on public safety communications, GIS, broadband, information sharing, thermal imaging, enhanced location technology, FirstNet and drones.  He chairs the National Council on Public Safety UAS and is a Certified FAA Remote Pilot. Charles also serves as Chief of Public Safety for DroneUp. Charles is an author with 120+ internationally published articles. Charles has received numerous recognitions for his work in the area of public safety technology. In 2008, he was selected as National Career Fire Chief of the Year by Fire Chief Magazine and in 2018, was selected Homeland Security Person of the Year by Homeland Security Today Magazine for work on public safety initiatives.    Contact Us