FirstEnergy Grant Expands Drone Training for Educators and Police

A Grant That Puts Drones in More Hands

The FirstEnergy Foundation has committed $15,000 to WarrenUAS, the unmanned systems initiative at Warren County Community College in New Jersey, to train 20 high school STEM teachers and 10 police officers in professional drone operations. The award is one of five foundation grants totaling $55,000 for New Jersey programs focused on electrical trades and STEM education.

What the Course Covers

Participants attend four-day sessions that prepare them for the FAA's Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate exam and include practical flight time at WarrenUAS facilities. Officers from ten departments across New Jersey and Pennsylvania have already enrolled, among them Sparta, Mount Olive, Hopatcong, Clinton and Newton, while educators from 11 school districts have taken part. The next course runs on Wednesdays and Fridays from November 11 to November 20, 2026, with nominations closing October 9, 2026.

Why It Matters for Police and Classrooms

Smaller police departments often struggle to afford drone training even as the technology becomes central to search and rescue, crash investigations and calls involving hazardous sites. Delaware Township Police Chief Robert Illes said the course made FAA regulations clearer and gave him hands-on flight experience; his rural agency sees promise in using drones to locate missing residents with dementia. Teachers, meanwhile, gain a way to bring drone technology and related career paths into their classrooms.

A Community Service Mission

WarrenUAS chief pilot Pete Miller described the program as part of the college's obligation to serve its community, since advanced training is frequently beyond the reach of local school districts and police forces. Nominations are now open for ten more teachers from districts that have not yet participated.