I recently traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, for the National League of Cities Summer Leadership Meeting. While I had visited Louisville before, this trip provided an opportunity to see the city through the eyes of its local leaders and to learn more about how it is preparing for the future.
My good friend, Louisville Metro Councilman Kevin Kramer is serving as the 2026 president of the National League of Cities. As our host, he offered an excellent overview of his hometown and helped showcase the facilities, programs and people that make Louisville a city on the move.
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Throughout the meeting, we participated in tours and presentations highlighting Louisville’s commitment to innovation, public safety and efficient government. It quickly became evident that the city is not simply talking about new ideas—it is putting them into practice.
One of the most interesting presentations came from Pamela McKnight, Louisville Metro Government’s first chief artificial intelligence officer. In this relatively new position, she is leading the city’s effort to use artificial intelligence responsibly and safely to improve government efficiency and streamline public services.
Artificial intelligence is a subject that often produces equal measures of excitement and concern. McKnight’s presentation demonstrated why cities need thoughtful leadership as they explore this rapidly developing technology. Louisville is working to establish safeguards while also looking for practical ways AI can help employees perform their jobs and make city services more responsive.
Louisville has already begun testing AI as a way to improve parts of its permitting process. The goal is not to replace city employees, but to provide them with better tools, reduce unnecessary delays and improve the experience of residents and businesses.
Our visit also included an evening at Churchill Downs, home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby. The massive racetrack and surrounding complex are impressive even when the Derby is not taking place. For someone like me, who has never attended the event, the visit provided a much better understanding of its size, history and importance to Louisville.
The following day, I toured the Louisville MetroSafe 911 center. The state-of-the-art facility was impressive, but even more impressive were the professionalism and dedication of the people working there.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services is led by Executive Director Jody Meiman, a former firefighter who helped direct the city’s response following the November 4, 2025, crash of UPS Airlines Flight 2976. The aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The tragedy ultimately claimed 15 lives, including the three crew members and 12 people on the ground.
Our group also learned about Louisville’s Drone as First Responder program. Drones positioned at stations around the city can be deployed quickly to accidents, fires, crime scenes and other emergencies. They provide dispatchers and first responders with an aerial view of a scene before emergency personnel arrive, helping them understand what they may be facing.
Louisville has also launched Text to 911, allowing people to reach emergency dispatchers when speaking on the telephone is impossible or unsafe. The service can be particularly valuable for people with hearing or speech disabilities and for victims of domestic violence who may be unable to make a voice call.
Our final evening included a visit to the Muhammad Ali Center. The remarkable facility tells the story of the Louisville native who became heavyweight champion of the world and one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century. More importantly, it explores Ali’s courage, confidence, convictions and commitment to serving others.
Louisville is proud of its history—from Churchill Downs to Muhammad Ali—but it is not living in the past. The city is using artificial intelligence, drones and advanced communication technology to improve public service and public safety.
That combination of tradition and innovation may be Louisville’s greatest strength. It respects the people and institutions that shaped the city while remaining willing to explore what comes next.
