20 Years, 20 Stories – Charlie Grove: A Lifelong Passion that Benefits the World
Years Active: 2013-Present
Charlie Grove loves the outdoors and in early 2013, he searched the web for possible organizations with which to place his desire to serve in ways that took him outside. As luck would have it, he discovered TEXSAR and its upcoming meeting was just a few minutes from his home. “I enjoyed meeting the people and seeing their commitment,” Charlie said. “All the meetings after that were on the other side of Austin,” he added with a grin, “but I was sold on TEXSAR.”
Charlie has also always loved computers. He developed his first website when he was 12, and built his first computer at 13. His love of technology, the outdoors and service had certainly found a home at TEXSAR.
After college, while living in Dallas, Charlie was involved with Habitat for Humanity. “I know that I have to give back. In my (computer) work, it is hard to see results, but they are visible when serving.”
It might be hard to see results, but not impossible. While many current and former TEXSAR volunteers cite the Memorial Day Wimberley Flood event of 2015 as a pivotal time, Charlie does, too, but for very different reasons. “My young son was in the ICU in Dallas during the floods. I couldn’t deploy, but I wanted to help. So, as I waited in the hospital for days, I developed SIMS (SAR Incident Management System).” This system has transformed TEXSAR’s ability to manage missions, communications, training and membership records. It is easy to see the results that the tool has provided TEXSAR. “It is gratifying to see people use SIMS. They are taking the time to push the button because they know it benefits them.”
Charlie’s efforts have benefitted many. In January 2025, Charlie received TEXSAR’s Distinguished Service award at the annual members’ meeting. The audience’s standing ovation signaled the appreciation of all for his contributions, including another technology tool that he created and re-released in 2024: Automated Drone Image Analysis Tool (ADIAT), a platform and set of algorithms that can be used to programmatically identify “areas of interest” in a set of digital images. “It helps minimize distractions for our volunteers in the field, enabling them to continue to do their work while ADIAT does its own,” he said.
ADIAT has served more than just TEXSAR. As an open-source tool, it is available for download to assist individuals and organizations. “There have been 1,657 downloads, so far, from around the world,” Charlie said. “It is cool to see the responses of the community. It is very interesting to consider where technology can take us in the search-and-rescue world, especially with the integration of AI, particularly involving the knowledge of lost-person behavior.”
Charlie does not go out in the field as much as he used to. When he does, it is usually with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) assignments where the vision of ADIAT comes to fruition.
“While technology can offload many repetitive tasks, there will always be the need for people using their time and energy on critical thinking and analysis,” Charlie said. “This work will always need people.”
Learn more about TEXSAR at www.TEXSAR.org.
TEXSAR: 20 Years, 20 Stories, is a series of people-centric stories that celebrate the history of TEXSAR’s heroics and humanity as its volunteers continue their mission of ‘Texans helping Texans’ with Service above Self. The sequence of stories and profiles will come together in 2024 and 2025, celebrating the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. To read more, click here.
