The Advisory Board of the First Responders Drone Operators Association (FRDOA) is committed to advancing the safe, effective, and standardized use of drone technology across California’s public safety landscape. Comprising experienced leaders from law enforcement, fire services, Utilities and Infrastructure, academia, and professional training organizations—including representatives from the LAPD, LAFD, University of Southern California, and agencies large and small—the Advisory Board serves as the strategic compass for the association.
Our mission is to shape the future of first responder drone operations by guiding the development of statewide training standards, operational policies, and best practices. The Board plays a pivotal role in advising on course content, conference themes, speaker selection, and regional training needs—ensuring that programs are relevant, forward-thinking, and reflective of real-world challenges.
We are dedicated to fostering leadership, collaboration, and innovation among drone operators, strengthening existing programs, and supporting the launch of new initiatives. Through the development of gold standards and shared practices, the FRDOA Advisory Board aims to unite California’s diverse drone community under a common mission: to enhance public safety through excellence in unmanned aerial operations.
"An Eye In The Sky For Every Emergency"
Email: jewell@djgridirontraining.com
Mr. Jewell is the Operations partner with Gridiron Training Inc., which is a statewide training organization. Mr Jewell has over 24 years of law enforcement experience with state and municipal agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Having earned numerous medals, citations, and commendations over his career, he served as Hostage Negotiator team leader, Detective, Violent Crimes Investigator, Motor Officer, Crime Suppression Sergeant, and Patrol Sergeant among other assignments.
He is Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) And STC certified instructor. With 22 years of consulting and instructing experience Mr. Jewell has a wide breadth of subject matter expertise. He works with industry leaders, educators, and consultants for health systems, private and public school systems, businesses, and universities to ensure organizations meet the growing needs and challenges of their diverse staff, stakeholders, and those they serve. He has taught in community college, Career College, and currently serves as an instructor at a Northern California P.O.S.T. regional training center and instruct statewide for Gridiron Training.
Mr. Jewell is known as a passionate and innovative instructor who combines industry standards, historical perspectives, and current events to create a unique and one of a kind learning experience for each course taught. Mr. Jewell’s instructions are always student centered by facilitated learning.
Mr. Jewell holds numerous P.O.S.T. professional certificates, including Supervisor and Leadership, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Adult Education and Development from Southern Illinois University.--
Jeff Henderson is a Police Commander in the northern California region. He has extensive experience in leading and managing agencies through challenging times. With a strong background in crisis leadership,Jeff has specialized in developing strategic approaches to recruiting and retaining top talent within law enforcement. He has effectively implemented innovative solutions such as pooling resources for hiring, shared cost strategies, and targeted incentives for recruitment and retention. His expertise in navigating the complexities of workforce challenges has positioned him as a trusted advisor and leader in the field.
In his current role, Jeff has successfully led initiatives that have not only enhanced recruitment efforts but have also significantly improved retention rates, ensuring that agencies are staffed with skilled and dedicated personnel. His practical insights and forward-thinking strategies make him an ideal resource for law enforcement leaders looking to strengthen their teams and navigate crises effectively.
Jeff holds a distinguished career marked by commendable service, strategic vision, and a commitment to excellence in public safety. He is dedicated to equipping law enforcement leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to build resilient and adaptive agencies capable of meeting the demands oftoday’s complex environment.
Lauretta Hill is a distinguished law enforcement executive with over 31 years of service.
Recognized as an ethical, energetic, and visionary leader, she is a transformational force in
modern policing and a champion of community-focused public safety.
In December 2022, Lauretta made history by becoming the first female Chief of Public Safety at
the University of Southern California (USC) in the 77-year history of the Department of Public
Safety (DPS). As Assistant Vice President and Chief, she leads a department of more than 300
public safety professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation.
Before joining USC, Lauretta served as the inaugural Police Chief for Dallas College, where she
became the second African American female police chief in the state of Texas. Tasked with
merging seven independent campus police departments into a single cohesive agency, she
restructured operations, modernized policies, and aligned the department with the college’s
strategic goals.
Her leadership journey also includes serving as Deputy Chief of Police in Miami Beach, where
she led a comprehensive departmental reorganization, reestablished community policing
practices, and championed police legitimacy and trust. Prior to that, she spent over two decades
with the Arlington, Texas Police Department, ultimately retiring as Assistant Chief. In this role,
she oversaw major event security operations for national and international sporting events,
including Super Bowl XLV, the NBA All-Star Game, the MLB World Series, and the NCAA
Final Four.
Throughout her career, Lauretta has broken barriers as the first and highest-ranking African
American female in multiple agencies. Her commitment to public safety and equity has earned
her numerous awards and widespread recognition.
Lauretta holds a master’s degree from Texas Christian University and a bachelor’s degree from
the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the
Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. She also serves on
the Executive Steering Committee for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Captain Richard Thompson was appointed to the Los Angeles City Fire Department on January 7, 2007 at the age of 23. Captain Thompson has served the citizens of Los Angeles City. Captain Thompson has held the ranks of Firefighter/Paramedic, Emergency Incident Technician, Fire Captain I, and promoted to Fire Captain II on August 29, 2021.
Richard attended Paraclete High School, Union Institute and University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Services Management and a minor in Fire Science and Technology. He has also completed numerous Leadership courses and symposiums.
Richard is currently doing a tour of special duty overseeing the Hazmat/CBRNE section, the Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT), and the UAS program. He also had a special assignment of being team lead on the department's Los Angeles Region’s Green Cell cadre. He also serves on the UAS FIRESCOPE Subcommittee, as well as multiple other work groups and committees regarding UAS and Hazmat.
During his time away from work, Richard enjoys spending time with his family and friends and engaging in all types of outdoor activity. He is very proud of his profession, but considers his greatest accomplishments in life to be a proud husband to his wife and father to his daughter.
Todd Withers is currently a Lieutenant at the Beverly Hills Police Department where he serves as the Administrative Services Division Lieutenant and has command of the UAS/ Drone program.
His career in law enforcement began in 1991 where he served as a reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department assigned as a Patrol Deputy. In 1997 he was hired by the Beverly Hills Police Department and has worked assignments as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Undercover Crime Suppression Unit, Rangemaster, SWAT and Detectives. In 2009 he was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant in 2018.
In 2021, he took command of the newly formed UAS/ Drone Team where he has overseen its growth to 22 certified FAA Part 107 pilots who fly DFR 7 days a week/ 12 hours per day and currently have amassed over 16,000 DFR flights. In addition, the Beverly Hills Police Department currently has 18 Rapid Deployment Drones and 9 interior tactical drones in issued to officers on multiple shifts for use in tactical situations.
He holds a Master of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Emergency Services Administration. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the Drucker School of Management- Executive Leadership Institute. He obtained his FAA Part 107 UAS license in August 2023.
Commander Bryan D. Lium is a leader in American law enforcement with over 29 years of service in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). As the Los Angeles Police Departments, Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations, Commander Lium plays a critical role in overseeing strategic operations for one of the largest municipal police agencies in the country, supporting the deployment of over 6,500 sworn officers across a broad range of patrol, detectives and specialized citywide units.
Throughout his career, Commander Lium has served in a wide array of command and leadership roles, including Commanding Officer of the LAPD’s Risk Management and Legal Affairs Division, where he drove policy reform and strengthened litigation resilience, and as Assistant Commanding Officer of Operations-Valley Bureau, overseeing a region of nearly 2 million residents. He also held command positions at the patrol and geographic division levels, building deep expertise in field operations, community engagement, and critical incident management.
Commander Lium is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Executive Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice from Central Washington University. He has also completed advanced training from institutions including USC’s Delinquency Control Institute, the LAPD West Point Leadership Program, and Texas A&M’s Emergency Management Command Program.
Commander Lium is currently leading the development and implementation of the LAPD’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program, a complex, multi-layered initiative at the forefront of modern policing. The DFR program is tasked with integrating advanced unmanned aerial systems into LAPD field operations in real time. Balancing the intricate challenges of evolving drone technologies, complex airspace coordination across diverse urban and suburban landscapes, and a high-profile political and regulatory environment, he is managing one of the most demanding and innovative initiatives in contemporary policing.