The Guardian Angel Drone pilot program launched in three Florida school districts, increasing the safety and security measures.
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that school districts in Broward County, Leon County, and Volusia County will participate in the new Campus Guardian Angel Pilot Program. The Campus Guardian Angel Program uses drones to distract active shooters while providing real-time audio and video feeds to guardians and law enforcement during potential threats on school campuses. The program will also be fully integrated with the Alyssa Alert platform in each participating district.
Campus Guardian Angel will be working with each participating district to install the drone service and associated infrastructure, and anticipates the service will be operational on each designated campus by the beginning of 2026.
After launching the drone program in Florida, Campus Guardian Angel CEO Justin Marston and Chief Tactical Officer Bill King issued the following statement: “We are proud that Florida is the first state in the nation to fund and implement a pilot program that will give school districts and first responders every advantage in protecting the lives of students, teachers, and staff on campus. Florida has established itself as an innovator in school safety, and we are deeply grateful to Commissioner Kamoutsas, Governor DeSantis, and the Florida Legislature for their leadership in pushing this program forward and embracing innovation to keep campuses safe.”
“Ensuring students and teachers have a safe and secure learning environment is one of my top priorities as Commissioner. Florida remains the national leader in school safety because we continue to invest in solutions that protect students and support a rapid, coordinated response,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “The Guardian Angel Program is an important step in expanding the safety tools available to our districts. I thank Governor DeSantis for driving these efforts forward and ensuring our schools have the resources they need.”
“Broward County Public Schools keeps safety at the forefront of everything we do. The integration of the Guardian Angel Program will strengthen our ability to respond swiftly and decisively in the event of a threat,” said Dr. Howard Hepburn, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools. “We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Kamoutsas for their leadership in this initiative.”
“As we join the Campus Guardian Angel Pilot Program, Leon County Schools is embracing another layer of protection that enhances rapid response, real-time awareness and coordinated action,” said Laurie Cox, Chair of the Leon County School Board. “We appreciate the state’s commitment to equipping our district with advanced tools and look forward to this partnership helping ensure every campus remains a place of learning and safety.”
“Volusia County Schools is proud to be a part of the pilot for the Campus Guardian Angel Program. By participating in this program, we are reinforcing our commitment to proactive safety measures and smart, coordinated response. This is another important step in ensuring our campuses not only teach students well, but also protect them well,” said Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent of Volusia County Schools.
Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has made historic and sustained investments in school safety with more than $1.3 billion dedicated to strengthening campus security. This commitment continues with $557,000 directed to the Campus Guardian Angel Program, ensuring schools have access to advanced, life-saving technology that supports rapid and effective emergency response.
For additional information about the Florida Department of Education’s mission to support districts in providing a safe learning environment for all students and teachers, visit the Safe Schools page.
