Hudson Highlights Innovation, School Safety Technology at UNC Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) visited UNC Greensboro, where he met with Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. to discuss the university's work in defense, energy, and workforce development, including its iCOMMAND Project and BRIGHT Institute.

"Lives are being changed every day at UNC Greensboro. They are also doing some exciting work that can make a real difference for our country," said Rep. Hudson. "From supporting our servicemembers and veterans to developing new energy technology, there is a lot happening at UNCG. I appreciated Chancellor Gilliam taking the time to bring me up to speed on the work they're doing."

Following the meeting, Hudson visited the UNCG Police Department for a demonstration of ZeroEyes, an artificial intelligence and human-verified security system founded by former Navy SEALs designed to detect visible firearms and quickly alert authorities. ZeroEyes does not use facial recognition technology and is designed to protect public safety without targeting law-abiding gun owners.

"As one of the strongest supporters of the Second Amendment in Congress and someone who has worked to make our schools safer, I believe we can protect our rights and give law enforcement better tools to stop violence before it happens," said Rep. Hudson. "I appreciated getting to see this technology and learning how ZeroEyes is working to keep people safe without using facial recognition or targeting law-abiding gun owners."

"We're grateful to Rep. Hudson for joining us and to the UNCG Police Department for hosting today's demonstration. Their officers take protecting this campus seriously, and we're proud to work alongside them," said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. "We created ZeroEyes to give police an earlier warning and a chance to act before someone gets hurt. That's why we do this, and it's what keeps our team working around the clock."

Background

UNCG serves roughly 19,000 students and offers more than 150 undergraduate and over 200 master's and doctoral programs.

Hudson previously visited UNCG in November 2025 to learn more about the university's iCOMMAND Project and BRIGHT Institute.

The iCOMMAND Project conducts research and develops technology to protect, train, and support military personnel, veterans, and their families. Its work includes advanced manufacturing, health and physical resilience, bio-industrial manufacturing, and efforts connecting academic research with the DEVCOM Soldier Center and helping servicemembers transition into civilian careers.

The BRIGHT Institute focuses on helping make North Carolina a leader in next-generation energy and battery technology by bringing together research, industry, and workforce development.

ZeroEyes was founded by former Navy SEALs and uses artificial intelligence with human verification to detect visible firearms through existing security cameras. The technology does not use facial recognition, does not identify people based on clothing, skin tone, or other personal characteristics, and is designed to detect illegally brandished firearms rather than target lawful gun owners. When a potential weapon is flagged, a trained specialist reviews the image before an alert is sent to first responders and local officials.

Hudson has supported efforts to strengthen school safety, including the STOP School Violence Act, which was signed into law in 2018 and provides resources for school security, violence-prevention training, and other measures to protect students and teachers.