Jason Grubbs

Deputy/UAS Team Leader - Story County Sheriff's Office

Deputy Grubbs has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Deputy Grubbs served on active duty in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks of the United States Air Force in heavy bomber aircraft units. Deputy Grubbs has served as a board member for the Peer Support Foundation, the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Committee and Story County Hazard Mitigation Committee. Deputy Grubbs has been recognized for outstanding performance on multiple occasions to include the 2019 American Legion Iowa Peace Officer of the Year Award, Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Aircraft Maintenance & Munitions Officer Course and the General Chappie James Award of Merit. Deputy Grubbs can speak to his role as a visionary in recognizing the useful integration of UAS into the public safety sector. As early as 2014, Deputy Grubbs began spearheading the efforts behind identifying the necessary equipment, policies, waivers, training, maintenance, and on-going requirements for building an internationally recognized team from the ground up in less than two years of operation. As a direct result of his work, the Story County Sheriff’s Office UAS team received an AUVSI-XCELLENCE First Place in Public Safety Award in 2022. Team Leader Grubbs has been a subject matter expert panelist on the UAS in Public Safety Workshop for Kansas State University and his expertise has helped many agencies develop their own UAS programs. Additionally, Grubbs has been asked to serve as a subject matter expert for the National Institute of Standards and Training small UAS challenge with contestants striving towards the goal of successfully building an indoor operations UAS to respond to natural disasters and aid in collapsed/compromised structure searches and inspections. On January 4th 2024 Deputy Grubbs responded to assist with mutual aid during an active killer at Perry High School in Perry, IA. He deployed UAS overwatch assets during his response and provided scene security, tactical awareness and scene documentation to responders. Deputy Grubbs continues to encourage the Story County UAS Team to strive towards excellence as many team members have attended courses in counter UAS tactics, search and rescue, night operations, regulations and best practices.

Sessions