Flight Operations Technician

John was the Unmanned Systems Senior Training Analyst for Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics (F1RST) within the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Recruited to build the agency’s unmanned systems program from the ground up, he successfully launched its first UAS Tactical Team and expanded drone operations into routine patrol deployment. A pioneer in public safety aviation, John was instrumental in securing the first-ever FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver without a Visual Observer (VO) granted to a public service organization. 

John brings over a decade of private-sector UAS experience and a 26-year law enforcement legacy to his current role. He retired in 2010 as a Detective from the Fairfax County Police Department, where his career spanned Major Crimes, the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, undercover Narcotics, and the Lead Detective in the Electronic Surveillance Unit. Following his retirement, he supported military exercises as an sUAS Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) contractor, served as the International Technical Support Manager for Cobham Surveillance, and worked as the Public Safety Sales Manager for Autel Robotics. 

A certified FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot since 2016, John has been piloting unmanned aircraft for personal, commercial, military, and public safety missions globally since 2015.