“All Available Resources: A Global Cooperation to Save Lives”

By Commander Matthew Mitchell, CEM , USCG (Ret.), Director of Global Search and Rescue at FocusPoint International

To my left was Captain Esther Saleh, Asia’s first female experimental test pilot, to my right, Dr. Robert Koester, the world’s leading expert on lost person behavior, and shaking my hand was Brigadier General Mohammad Abdulaziz Ishaq Al-Ishaq, the Commander of Qatar’s Rescue Coordination Center. This small but distinguished group was just one among many at one of the world’s largest search and rescue (SAR) conferences: the International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Conference and Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Since the tragic disappearance of Malaysian Air Flight 370 in 2014, Malaysia has not only emerged as a regional leader in SAR but has become a global force in advancing lifesaving missions. Now in its tenth year, ISAR draws participation from nearly 50 nations, including top innovators from academia, nonprofits, and leading governmental SAR organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard. This year's conference featured opening remarks from Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, Director General of India’s National Maritime Foundation, and Mr. Roland McKie from the International Maritime Rescue Federation. Technology innovators like Zelim Ltd., a Scottish company specializing in artificial intelligence detection systems, presented alongside my own discussion on the human factors affecting SAR decision-making.

ISAR embodies a fundamental principle of the global lifesaving community: absolute inclusivity. At its core is the belief that the act of saving lives must utilize All Available Resources. The mission of saving lives transcends borders, politics, and organizational affiliations, requiring seamless cooperation between governments, nonprofits, and the private sector. This cooperation is critical not only at the operational level—where rescuers physically save lives—but also at the strategic level, where global leaders chart the course for future efforts.

The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual encourages nations to "effectively use all available resources for SAR, including global, regional, national, private, commercial, and volunteer resources." FocusPoint International, in this context, functions as a global SAR Alerting Post, a crucial link between those reporting emergencies and rescue coordination centers. As distress communication technology evolves at a breakneck pace, it is often challenging for governmental SAR authorities to keep up. In an All Available Resources ecosystem, FocusPoint plays a key role by leveraging new technologies to quickly relay critical information to the appropriate SAR authorities, enabling timely and lifesaving responses.

At the heart of FocusPoint’s ability to support these lifesaving efforts is its veteran-founded organization, staffed predominantly by former U.S. military special operations, law enforcement, and first responders. This team draws upon decades of experience and proven methodologies forged through real-world missions. Their expertise allows FocusPoint to act swiftly and efficiently, ensuring SAR authorities receive the critical information they need at the most urgent moments. By integrating cutting-edge technology with practical knowledge and tactical experience, FocusPoint ensures that SAR authorities can respond with greater precision and effectiveness, advancing global lifesaving efforts.

In my second presentation, The Future of Distress Notification: The Emergence of the Private SAR Alerting Post, I outlined the evolution of distress communications and the role that cutting-edge companies like FocusPoint are playing in the global SAR system. As technology advances at an exponential rate, the private sector offers a unique advantage to governmental SAR authorities that often struggle to capitalize on innovation. A prime example of this is the difference between the traditional Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) program and the rapidly expanding Satellite Emergency Notification Device (SEND) market. SARSAT, to this day, remains a one-way communication system, plagued by a staggering 98% false alert rate. In contrast, SENDs support two-way communication and present a much lower false alert rate, approximately half that of SARSAT. ?However, the speed at which SEND technology advances often leaves regulators and SAR authorities unable to fully realize its benefits. This is where FocusPoint adds tremendous value—bridging the gap between cutting-edge technologies and the brave men and women on the front lines of SAR operations.

Whether it’s adventurers traveling abroad, sailors bringing goods to foreign shores, or survivors of an aircraft emergency, people will continue to need help in their darkest hours. Events like ISAR remind us of the best humanity has to offer—people from all over the world working collaboratively toward one of the most noble of all human endeavors. At FocusPoint, we are both honored and humbled to be part of this global effort to save lives.