Across Ohio, everyday citizens are putting drone technology to work in ways that save lives and reunite families. What began as a hobby or small business has grown into an essential resource for search and rescue, showing how powerful these tools can be when placed in the right hands.
According to WANE.com, Les Bowen of Elite Drone Services has been flying drones for six years, supporting local first responders with thermal imaging, deer recovery, and missing person searches. While he has assisted in countless missions, Bowen recently experienced a first—locating a missing 89-year-old with his drone. For him, the effort isn’t about profit but about giving back. “We’re blessed where we are in life, and it’s just my way of paying the communities back with the abilities we have,” he told WANE. His investment in thermal drone technology, he explained, paid for itself the moment it saved a life.
Ohio’s shoreline provided another powerful example. As DroneXL.co reports, when Pumpkin, a 15-year-old deaf Portuguese water dog, went missing along the rocky bluffs of Lake Erie, her family feared the worst. After more than a day of searching, they turned to drone pilot Craig Fazenbaker of Grunt Deer Recovery LLC. A former Marine, Fazenbaker launched his thermal drone into the night sky, carefully adjusting settings until a faint heat signature appeared. He then scaled a dangerous 70-foot embankment to bring Pumpkin safely home.
DroneXL reflected on stories like these as transformative for public perception, noting that while drones often make headlines for controversial uses, moments like Bowen’s and Fazenbaker’s highlight their true potential. These rescues underscore that the technology itself is remarkable—but it is the skill, persistence, and compassion of the pilots behind the controls that make the difference.
Together, these Ohioans demonstrate how drone technology is becoming an invaluable ally in public safety, whether saving an elderly neighbor or reuniting a beloved family pet.
Soaring to new heights, together.
Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.