InterDrone 2018

Gene Saunders Jr.




Gene founded the Project Lifesaver program in October 1998, while serving with the Chesapeake, VA Police Dept., as a Captain commanding Special Operations and SWAT and Chief of SAR, Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, when it became apparent to him there was a major void that needed to be filled. Project Lifesaver International is a 501 (C) (3) community based, public safety, non-profit organization that provides law enforcement, fire/rescue and other first responders with a comprehensive education, training, and technology based program for individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering, including those with Alzheimer’s disease and Autism. Project Lifesaver was the first organization to apply locating technology for the search and rescue of individuals with cognitive disorders and have remained the leader, the Gold Standard, in this field for the nearly 17 years. Gene has been a leader in the development of materials and training programs to provide the necessary education of doctors, caregivers, school administrators, first responders/search personnel, and of course, the families of loved ones at risk. In fact, Gene is a subject matter expert and advisor on the wandering issue for: Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s disease (LEAD), National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Alzheimer’s Foundation, and the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and the International Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Project Lifesaver program is now in 50 states, the District of Columbia and six provinces throughout Canada with over 1,527 member organizations. The success of the program can also be measured by the lives of the “at risk” individuals and their families the program has touched with over 3100 rescues.

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