CALGRU Launches as California’s Newest State Group in the Drone Responders Network
Monday, January 5, 2026
Posted by: CalChiefs
Big news for the California UAS Coordination Group and the broader fire service community.
The California UAS Coordination Group (CALGRU) has officially launched as the newest State Group within the DroneResponders Network, marking a significant milestone for public-safety unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations across California.
Who Are DroneResponders?
DroneResponders is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the safe, effective, and legal use of unmanned aircraft systems by public-safety agencies. Its mission is to provide education, coordination, advocacy, and shared best practices to first responders using UAS for emergency response, disaster management, search and rescue, situational awareness, and critical infrastructure protection.
Through a growing network of state and regional coordination groups, DroneResponders connects agencies, pilots, program managers, regulators, and innovators to address rapidly evolving operational, regulatory, and technological challenges.
Why CALGRU Matters
CALGRU brings that national framework directly to California—one of the most complex and operationally demanding UAS environments in the country. From wildland fire and earthquakes to floods, law enforcement operations, and large-scale planned events, California agencies rely heavily on UAS to enhance safety and effectiveness.
CALGRU’s goal is to leverage the collective experience of its members to: - Share timely regulatory and policy updates
- Provide practical tools that help shape their agencies operational guidance
- Foster collaboration across disciplines and jurisdictions
- Strengthen California’s unified voice on public-safety UAS issues
By participating in CALGRU, agencies and individual members gain access to a trusted peer network that helps them stay ahead of federal policy changes, operational trends, and emerging technologies—while ensuring programs remain compliant, resilient, and mission-focused.
CALGRU Website is Now Live
The CALGRU website is officially live and ready for members to create accounts. This platform will serve as the central hub for sharing updates and information impacting the public-safety UAS community statewide.
The first community post is already available, covering recent NDAA and FCC actions, and includes both a video briefing and a reference PDF—setting the tone for the type of actionable, practitioner-focused content CALGRU intends to provide.
Create your CALGRU profile here: https://www.droneresponders.org/calgru
Why Join DroneResponders and CALGRU?
Participation matters—now more than ever. Federal policy shifts (NDAA compliance, FCC covered entity, counter-UAS authorities, and FAA rulemaking) directly affect the ability of California agencies to acquire equipment, deploy aircraft, and operate effectively.
Joining DroneResponders and CALGRU helps ensure: - Your agency’s voice is represented at the state and national level
- You receive early awareness of regulatory and legislative changes
- You can share lessons learned and proven practices
- California agencies move forward together with consistency and credibility
First CALGRU Membership Meeting – January 16
CALGRU will hold its first membership meeting on January 16, 2026, at 10:30 AM Pacific Time. Topics will include: - Updates on NDAA requirements
- Counter-UAS developments
- Discussion of the FAA Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for drone package delivery operations, which is laying important groundwork for Part 108
Meeting Details Stay Connected
CALGRU will actively share resources, updates, and real-world examples of UAS use across California. Members are encouraged to follow and contribute:
CALGRU is always looking for additional material and stories to feature. If your agency has lessons learned, innovative uses, or operational insights to share, the CALGRU team wants to hear from you.
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We look forward to seeing you at the January meeting and to building a strong, coordinated future for public-safety UAS operations across California.
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