After hanging up my USAF flight suit in 2020 following 32 years of service—much of it working with Air Force drones—I realized I wasn’t quite ready to stay grounded.

Naturally, my version of retirement started with buying a drone of my own. I quickly fell in love with figuring out how small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) can solve real-world problems—and yes, capturing stunning aerial photography and cinematic video along the way is a major perk.

Since trading in military-grade hardware for compact rotors, I’ve logged over 1,500 flights across 10 different airframes. A few highlights from this second chapter:

Inspiring Future Aviators: I consulted with a local school to integrate drones directly into their STEAM curriculum, helping students discover flight dynamics, technology, and engineering hands-on.

Saving Lives with Red Rock Search & Rescue: I serve on the aerial search team, using thermal and optical sensors to cover rugged terrain where ground teams can’t easily tread.

Ground Support with Kwilana: In addition to flight operations, I work on a K9 Search and Rescue team with my trusty visual observer, Kwilana—proving that the best search missions blend cutting-edge tech with four-legged instinct.

Whether it’s mapping search grids, mentoring the next generation, or finding a fresh creative angle from 400 feet up, I’m always looking for the next problem a bird's-eye view can solve.