Vern Sallee

About Vern Sallee

As an Axon Air Strategist, my job is to help protect life by helping public safety agencies develop world-class UAS programs. Prior to accepting this new position at Axon, I was the lead strategist and manager of the Chula Vista Police Department\'s groundbreaking Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program. I have seen first hand the tremendous value of public safety drones as tools to improve officer safety, community safety and the safety of subjects we contact on a daily basis. Drones provide life saving real-time information and intelligence to help agencies de-escalate incidents and allow officers, supervisors and managers to bring forward the proper tactics, tools and resources to effect better public safety outcomes. I could not be more proud to continue the next phase of my career helping Axon develop class-leading public safety products and to help agencies improve their operations toward the benefit of the communities they serve.Prior experience: I am a 25 year veteran of the Chula Vista Police Department, and retired as the Patrol Operations Division Captain and second in command to the Chief of Police. I have over five years of command level experience in all three major divisions of the department. As part of my duties, I founded and led the evolution of CVPD\'s UAS program and its expansion into the current Drone as a First Responder model. I have presented at major national and international police and UAS conferences on public safety use of UAVs and served on the DOJ/PERF SLTT UAS Working Group. I recently co-testified with Chief Roxana Kennedy as a subject matter expert on police use of drones to the President\'s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice in April 2020. I am also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class 270 and California P.O.S.T. Command College, Class 53.

Experience

1. Axon Air Strategist

   Axon

   Oct 2020 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   After retiring from the Chula Vista Police Department after 25 years, and having led the development of the department\'s ground breaking Drone as a First Responder program, I am excited to have the opportunity to join the team at Axon. My new role as the Axon Air Strategist will enable me to help public safety agencies develop world-class, life saving drone programs utilizing Axon Air.

Education

• University of Virginia

  Graduate Cerfiticate, Criminal Justice Education

  2017

• Missouri State University

  Master's degree, Administrative Studies, Criminal Justice

  2014 — 2016

• San Diego State University

  Bachelor's degree Psychology, Psychology

  1988 — 1992