Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting

The Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE) is a section of Colorado's Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) established on May 12, 2014. Its mission is to drive technological advancements to improve firefighting practices and influence innovation across the public safety community. The CoE was created under Senate Bill 14-164 with the support of industry leaders who recognized the need to assess the effectiveness of aerial firefighting and emphasized the need for active, deliberate management of new technologies and operational testing. As a result, the CoE was formed to ensure the successful deployment of Colorado's aerial firefighting fleet. Since 2014, the CoE has continuously demonstrated its ability to move the advanced technology needle, and today, the CoE is the top research and development team for public safety service projects in Colorado and is recognized nationwide.