Aid and rescue operations are viewed as one of the foundational factors of disaster management. There is nothing more precious than the feeling to help the needy and bring loved ones back to their families. It is extremely important in the case of seniors who wander due to their delicate physical as well as mental conditions. Families of such people often feel anxious about their safety against injuries and other circumstances. For those who seek help in finding their loved ones and restoring peace of mind, Gene Saunders (Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Project Lifesaver International) is a boon for people. He works to recover wanderers lost due to Alzheimer’s, Autism, and other cognitive disorders.
Remarkable Career
Gene has had a wonderful personal and professional journey. He attended Old Dominion University and Tidewater Community College for his general studies. Later, he pursued an education at Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville. Gene is a retired Police Captain from Chesapeake Police Department (Virginia). He invested his 33 years of life serving in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives, and Training. He not only operated line function and command elements of each of these units but also founded the Chesapeake PD SWAT Team and commanded it for 23 years.
Speaking about his other ventures, Gene co-founded the Special Weapons and Tactics team in 1974 serving as tactical commander handling over 800 operations. Moreover, he has been the Chief Investigator on several large multi-state, international drug, and organized crime conspiracy investigations. Gene served in Army Reserves commanding Ranger and Airborne units. He has also served as the Shift Commander of the Olympic Security Team at the Soccer venue in Atlanta Olympics 1996. He is a certified instructor in Pursuit Driving, Firearms, Special Operations, Raid Planning, General Law Enforcement, and Search and Rescue.
Need for Lifesavers
Many individuals wander from their homes or structured care environments like assisted living due to their unfortunate situations. However, the system society had a few years ago for the increasing searches for non-cognitive people was not up to the mark. Project Lifesaver International was started as a result of the failure of standard search and rescue operations in 1999. The purpose behind this establishment was to help and rescue people in an easier way. “I received some information on radio tracking technology which is still used to track wildlife and thought; why can’t this work for humans along with a training program?” says Gene. However, this journey was not simple for him as he had to visit a local hospital multiple times to launch a pilot program in Chesapeake, Virginia. The first search by Project Lifesaver took place in April 1999 and lasted less than 30 minutes.
Hassles and Struggles
Recovering what is lost is a great responsibility and encounters various difficulties right from financial problems to workforce building. Gene also faced numerous challenges during his journey of building a strong system that secures people’s lives. “The first challenges were from for-profit companies that believed there was profit to be made and tried on multiple occasions to take over or force us out of operation,” says Gene. The other challenge was to find and maintain good and competent personnel for the company. The team had to fight back legally against the attempted takeovers while continuing to offer services to the members. Despite many challenges, the company continues to evaluate its equipment and services. It has also updated its training programs and explored new technology.
Helping the Helpless
Being a leader who contributes to saving many helpless people, Gene has to serve lots of responsibilities. His company, Project Lifesaver International, trains and equips public safety agencies so they may conduct rescue programs at a local level. As a leader, Gene oversees the operations of the company and the personnel involved. He also makes plans and budgets for the company as well as plans for the future. He has developed new training programs and equipment to enhance the capabilities of the agencies. Under his guidance, the company has grown the program to over 1,700 member agencies with over 4,000 rescues. He has expanded his business to over 1,600 public safety organizations in 50 states, 6 Provinces in Canada, and one agency in Australia.
Thanks to his persistent work, Gene has been recognized internationally as an expert and the Father of radio tracking recovery of persons at risk. Moreover, he has been the author of several articles for magazines concerning wandering as well as has appeared on numerous local, national, and international radio and television programs like CBS Early Show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Living the Life, Fox News, The Discovery Channel, CNN News, The Daily Buzz and William Shatner’s ‘Moving America Forward’. Exploring his artistic side, Gene has also performed lead and supporting roles on TV series like The Prosecutors. The FBI Files, The New Detectives, and The Untold Stories of the Navy SEALS.
Expert Team
An expert team ensures the best results. Rescue operations are crucial and hence to find the lost ones, it is necessary to have good equipment and training. Secondly, a team must give ongoing support to the members to solve any issues they may have. It is the most difficult task to find people who believe in what the company is doing out of many skilled and brave candidates. Project Lifesaver International has such a brilliant and courageous team that has helped the company grow. To keep the employees inspired, Gene offers various tactics such as keeping them informed and allowing their input into the operations. “Reward them for good performance while setting a standard for what you expect,” adds Gene.
Life beyond the Cabin
Unplugging from work is very necessary for a peaceful life. A perfect work-life balance is a part of self-care. Though it sounds very easy to achieve, switching through various phases of life is elusive. A passion for something makes this difficult way uncomplicated. Gene also expresses his love for travel and he travels with his wife. Gene is also a history lover and has read a lot related to US history. With his hobby, he gains great knowledge and wisdom—which he has been leveraging to drive the company forward.
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