Lt. Pilot Dustin Ponce, Lt. Eric Herrera and Lt. Pilot Brandon Palmer, from left, pose with Lifesaving Awards during a Public Safety Commission meeting Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Texas Department of Public Safety headquarters in Austin, Texas. The three DPS aircrew members were recognized for a March 2025 helicopter hoist rescue during historic Rio Grande Valley flooding.
Courtesy/Texas DPS
A Department of Public Safety pilot assigned to Laredo is being recognized for helping save a life during the historic Rio Grande Valley floods that killed six people and stranded hundreds across South Texas last year.
Lt. Pilot Brandon Palmer received a Lifesaving Award this month during a Texas Public Safety Commission meeting in Austin. The award honors Palmer and two fellow aircrew members for a March 2025 rescue amid the catastrophic flooding.
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“Receiving this recognition is truly an honor,” Palmer said. “South Texas is my home, and it is a privilege to serve the people and communities that have given so much to me.”
The incident took place during a three-day disaster that inundated large portions of Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties.
According to the National Weather Service, some communities received nearly 20 inches of rain as floodwaters covered roads, inundated homes and stranded motorists across the Rio Grande Valley. The agency later described the flooding as historic after the storm shattered rainfall records throughout the region.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all four Rio Grande Valley counties as thousands of vehicles and buildings were damaged and hundreds of people were rescued during the storm.
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However, not everyone survived.
The National Weather Service reported six storm-related deaths, including several drowning victims in Hidalgo County and two deaths linked to a lightning-related fire in Willacy County.
Amid the response, Palmer and two other DPS aircrew members were conducting damage assessments when they heard radio traffic about two people stranded in a flooded canal.
After multiple attempts to reach the individuals with flotation devices failed and floodwaters continued to rise, the crew launched a helicopter hoist rescue.
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One of the stranded individuals was pulled to safety.
Reflecting on the mission, Palmer said what he remembers most is how quickly he was able to rely on years of training.
“When we arrived on scene, our training took over immediately,” he said. “Every decision and action felt like muscle memory because we had practiced those scenarios countless times. Our training is realistic, demanding and designed to prepare aircrews for high-risk rescue situations.”
Palmer said the rescue reinforced the value of the DPS Aircraft Operations Division’s training program and demonstrated that aircrews are prepared when lives are on the line.
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For Palmer, the recognition reflects more than a single mission — and more than the actions of a single person. He said it represents the dedication of DPS, from its training staff and leadership to the entire Aircraft Operations Division.
Palmer, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two deployments to Iraq, has served with DPS since December 2016 and has been assigned to the Laredo area since April 2021. He is originally from McAllen.
“Being part of an effort that helped save lives is one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” Palmer said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference when people need help the most.”
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Palmer was recognized alongside Lt. Pilot Dustin Ponce and Lt. Eric Herrera, both of whom are assigned to the Edinburg area.