RescueGIS: A Mission Born from Tragedy, Built for Protection
A Generation Called Out and Life Purpose
What began with the tragic story of a coach and of a father along with the concerns of our daughters lead to a profound thought... That being our generation, my generation not being fully devoted had let down the present generation—it turned into a life purpose.
Careful Listening, Design, and Build
From the early guidance of the emergency manager stating, “make it simple, in tragedy people have one brain cell... one button”, to the 911 patent holder stating, “more are medical”, to the highly experienced peace officer who clearly said, “train and whatever you do don’t stop, we need this”. We took it all to heart, strengthening our resolve.
Seasoned industry experts came onboard who became lifelong friends, guiding us constantly away from land mines, completely dedicated on a trusted handshake. Joining next were smart business professionals at the top of their game and vendors with brilliant team members who care deeply for this to succeed— all elevating the business and the technologies.
Out of Care... Empowering Capabilities
For the real lives of the young and old experiencing fear and being alone in daily common and unexpected situations... We Care. It’s why we created the technologies necessary to empower those capable of helping. A system designed to help people react faster and even prevent tragedies before they unfold—not just in schools, but in homes, cities, and communities.
People often need just a little help, whether it’s guidance during an emergency or full-scale resources in life-threatening situations. RescueGIS delivers all of these capabilities within a single global system—something no one else offers.
A Future Where Immediate Intelligence Saves Lives
When we hear about another act of violence or a medical crisis, we're reminded of the countless moments, big and small, that impact families every day. That’s why RescueGIS exists—because immediate help saves lives, reduces harm, and ensures no one has to stand unprotected in the face of danger. We can’t prevent every tragedy. But we can give our protectors, our responders, and our guardians of life the response tools needed to help.
Instead of words soon forgotten we chose increased devotion to the unfinished work of resolving the needs of today. A path of self-funding the development to avoid unsavory financial influences and we removed the business and technology risks on our own dime. Countless people assisted at just the right time. If you are one of these people, the rare precious few, we welcome you in. Together we can “help people care for one another”, It’s Our Mission.
Chad Ahrens
Founder and CEO
Origin:
A Father’s Motivation and a Personal Loss
In the late 2010s, school shootings had become tragically frequent. Chad Ahrens’ mission became deeply personal when his daughter, a high school junior, came home and asked, “Dad, what do I do if something like that happens at my school? The question hit hard. Ahrens had lost a close friend to campus violence years earlier, and now his own daughter was confronting the same terrifying reality. He knew he had to act. This wasn’t just an idea—it was a responsibility.
A Tragedy That Ignited Action
The 2018 Parkland shooting was a turning point. The image of Coach Aaron Feis shielding students, knowing he wouldn’t survive, stuck with us deeply. What if he had some type of mobile protection?
A Life-Saving Solution
The brutal reality is walls, glass, desks, and doors provide very little if any protection—leaving nowhere safe to hide. Ahrens thought back to old desk calendars—readily accessible and disguised. Could a similar design provide instant protection and provide safety without looking unsafe? Using his aviation background, he researched materials and found a military grade supplier of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene—thin, lightweight, yet capable of stopping multiple bullets. That was the breakthrough. A portable, easily accessible shield could save lives.
Beyond Protection: A Smarter Response
Ahrens they realized something else: wherever the shield moved, the threat moved too. What if real-time tracking could help responders act faster?
Advancements in IoT (Internet of Things) technology made it possible. What if shields weren’t just protection but part of an intelligent emergency response system? If a shield was raised toward a threat, it could pinpoint the attacker’s location. This vision led to RescueGIS, a patent protected Geospatial Intelligence System that integrates real-time data and geospatial awareness to respond instantly and save lives.
Geo Intelligence and AI... Leaving Behind the Age of Phonebooks
Our major safety systems have fallen behind. In use today; 1997 Emergency Alert System, 1969 911 Systems, 1936 Motorola Radios.
Instead imagine a future where immediate intelligence and capabilities to respond saves lives. RescueGIS started as a tool for school safety. But as it evolved, it became something bigger—a rescue system that empowers people with real-time intelligence and response tools, revolutionizing public safety and emergency management.