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Charles Combs has more than two decades of experience in public safety, including emergency medical services, Search and Rescue, and incident response operations. He is a former tactical medic and emergency medical services director with extensive operational experience in high-risk, complex environments. He has worldwide experience teaching emergency and tactical medicine, delivering instruction to military, law enforcement, and civilian responders in austere and operational settings. As an EMS Director, he established a fully operational Advanced Life Support emergency medical service in under two weeks in support of Air Force Special Operations Command. His recent work has focused on the integration of manned and unmanned aviation into SAR and disaster response operations, including air operations planning, UAS-enabled situational awareness, and risk-informed decision making within Incident Command System frameworks. He is a paramedic with over 20 years of clinical experience. He holds FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification and a European small unmanned aircraft system pilot license. Education: Master of Arts in Disaster Management, Florida International University; Graduate Certificates in both Unmanned Aerial Systems and Remote Sensing, University of Wyoming.
This lecture explores the use of remote assessment principles in civilian Search and Rescue operations, using small unmanned aircraft systems as the primary remote assessment tool. The presentation focuses on how UAS-enabled overwatch can support early survivability assessment, hazard identification, and risk-informed decision-making prior to committing rescuers to high-risk terrain. The session demonstrates how remote visual assessment, limited remote influence, and continuous aerial monitoring can reduce responder exposure while maintaining operational effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on structured workflows, clearly defined decision thresholds, and the integration of UAS-derived information into command-level risk management rather than technology-driven improvisation. The lecture addresses both operational benefits and limitations and highlights the importance of disciplined training, standardized procedures, and ethical considerations when applying remote assessment techniques in Search and Rescue operations.