Janessa Ruiz is an experienced firefighter and Apparatus Engineer for Bernalillo County Fire
Rescue, with a specialized role as the department\'s Drone Coordinator. Ruiz\'s interest in
unmanned aircraft emerged when her division started managing the department\'s underused
drones. This role allowed her to gain significant experience with different types of small
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS), enhancing the department\'s operational utility and playing a
crucial role in emergency operations.
Ruiz values a comprehensive and well-defined plan for drone operation and emphasizes the
importance of adequate training for drone pilots. She has worked extensively to ensure all
necessary mechanisms are in place to protect drones, pilots, and the organization. In addition, she
has worked collaboratively with private organizations and other first-responder agencies to
establish robust sUAS programs.
In addition to her firefighting career, Ruiz is an accomplished filmmaker with experience in
traditional and new-age media. She understands the significant impact of capturing the perfect
shot, recognizing how drones have revolutionized filming sequences. She acknowledges that a
superior drone pilot must deeply understand photography and videography principles

Since 2019, she has accumulated over 1000 flight hours in emergency operations and film
production, tirelessly honing her piloting skills. Ruiz is enthusiastic about collaborating with
other organizations to improve further and extend their drone efforts.