Ernie Stephens 
Conference Chair 

Ernie Stephens spent 27 years with the Prince George’s County (Md.) Police Department, retiring as a sergeant and chief pilot from the Aviation Section. He began his flying career in the late 1980s when he earned his rotorcraft license and incorporated a small aviation company as a sideline to his law enforcement career. His experience flying and managing helicopter operations was put to use when his department decided to form a helicopter unit, appointing him the officer-in-charge and later the chief pilot until his retirement in 2006. Ernie holds a B.S. in Management of Technical Operations and an M.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he is also a professor. He has been writing features, columns and doing aircraft evaluations for Rotor & Wing magazine since 2003, and has also served as its editor-in-chief. In 2008 and 2009, Ernie was nominated for the Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award.

Moderator: Multi-Agency SAR Operations, Sar Go/No-Go Decisions, The Pilot Pool
Speaker: Opening Session welcome remarks