Former U.S. Fire Administrator Joins the FireDome Advisory Board to Drive Wildfire Defense Innovation
FireDome, a startup developing a revolutionary wildfire defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, announced today that Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former U.S. Fire Administrator, has joined its Advisory Board. With more than three decades of experience in fire service and public safety, Dr. Moore-Merrell brings unparalleled expertise to FireDome’s leadership team. Her career spans federal government administration and international non-governmental organizations, where she has built a reputation as a change agent in fire service leadership.
Dr. Moore-Merrell has extensive leadership experience in public safety, policy development, and emergency response. Her expertise includes strategic planning, big data analytics, and community risk assessment, as well as translating research into actionable policies that enhance public safety operations. She has worked at the highest levels of government, engaging with White House senior staff, cabinet officials, and industry leaders to drive advancements in firefighter operational efficiency.
"I'm deeply impressed with FireDome's innovative approach and the remarkable progress the team has achieved thus far," says Dr. Moore-Merrell. "I believe U.S. communities, policy makers, property owners, utility officials, and fire chiefs will recognize FireDome as a transformative technology that can significantly enhance wildfire protection. Fully implemented, FireDome will provide large scale wildfire defense solutions and ensure community resilience and sustainability in the years ahead."
Dr. Moore-Merrell joins an extremely experienced advisory board that includes industry leaders such as Seth Schalet, CEO of the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, who brings over 30 years of experience as a global sales and operations leader in technology and public safety sectors; Brig. Gen. (Ret) Pinhas (Pini) Yungman, a senior figure in Israel’s defense industry and one of the founding leaders behind the Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems; Gabriel Gross, a France-based expert in parametric insurance with over 30 years of experience in environment-related insurance innovation and climate risk analysis; and Lior Libman, an entrepreneur and executive with a Ph.D. in Life Sciences and an MBA, specializing in launching and scaling high-growth startups in AI, deep-tech, and health sectors.
“Dr. Moore-Merrell’s deep knowledge of fire science, emergency response, and data-driven risk assessment aligns perfectly with FireDome’s mission to create an innovative, autonomous wildfire defense solution,” said Gadi Benjamini, CEO and co-founder of FireDome. “Her leadership experience will be instrumental in helping us bring a practical and effective fire prevention system to market and fulfill FireDome’s vision of enhancing community safety from wildfires.”
FireDome is developing an autonomous wildfire defense system. The company’s patent-pending solution deploys a two-tiered approach: first, a mechanical launcher rapidly and accurately deploys capsules containing eco-friendly fire retardant to create a protective barrier against advancing wildfires. Second, AI-powered computer vision detects and extinguishes spot fires caused by airborne embers that bypass the primary barrier. The system operates independently of local water and power infrastructure, ensuring reliable protection even in remote or off-grid locations. With multiple redundancies and fire-retardant effectiveness lasting weeks, FireDome’s system is designed to provide extensive and resilient wildfire defense. Additionally, it integrates with external wildfire alert systems to enable rapid response coordination.
FireDome is collaborating closely with its first customers to refine and deploy its system, enhancing current fire protection measures. By combining advanced fire prevention technology with data-driven insights, FireDome offers a proactive and reliable defense against the increasing threat of wildfires.
For more information, visit www.fire-dome.com.
