doctordrone

I have been an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA for nearly 25-years, including the past few years as a supervisor. I am also a life-long photographer and an avid small UAS (drone) enthusiast. I keep apprised of current events surrounding small UAS, both good and bad, and continually study the regulatory activities regarding small UAS. I was invited by NASA and participated as a team member in a work group aimed at solving research gaps in the area of small UAS Traffic Management (UTM) at the Ames Research Center. I am a member of AUVSI, the AMA, ALEA, and UAVSA. I have also spent many hours at workshops, symposiums, conventions, tradeshows and forums, in order to equip myself to provide some small contribution toward the safe integration of small UAS into the national airspace system (NAS). I continually strive to help educate small UAS operators about the airspace in which we fly, the risks and responsibilities associated with flying small UAS, and encourage the use of tools including Know Before You Fly, the B4UFLY app, and other resources that provide information on TFR’s and other “no-fly zones.”

I am also the Organizer/Director of the Bay Area Drone Film Festival. The inaugural event is scheduled for February 28, 2016 in Santa Clara, CA. The mission of the festival is to promote drone education and entertainment to the public, and increase safety awareness to drone operators including videographers, photographers and enthusiasts.