12:30 PM – 1:20 PM – The View From the Field: What Operators, Pilots, and Fleet Managers Are Saying About the Commercial Drone Industry
What do pilots, fleet managers, and commercial drone operators actually think about the state of the commercial drone industry? Earlier this year, Commercial UAV News and Pilot Institute set out to find out, surveying the practitioners and professionals who keep operations running every day.
In this keynote, Commercial UAV News Content Manager Matt Collins will share highlights from that research, spotlighting the trends, frustrations, and opportunities that emerged directly from the people closest to the work. He’ll then be joined by Greg Reverdiau, Pilot Institute’s co-founder for a wide-ranging conversation about what the data means for the industry’s trajectory — from regulatory hurdles and hardware procurement to workforce development and the future of commercial drone operations.
This session puts operator voices at the center, offering an unfiltered look at what the commercial drone industry is experiencing on the ground, and where the people doing the work believe it needs to go from here.
1:20 PM – 1:30 PM – Eric Talley Public Safety UAS Excellence Award, presented by DRONERESPONDERS.
The Eric Talley Public Safety UAS Excellence Award honors outstanding achievement in the integration and advancement of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in public safety operations. This award recognizes individuals or teams who demonstrate innovation, professionalism, and measurable impact in the use of drone technology to enhance mission effectiveness, improve situational awareness, and protect the communities they serve. Recipients embody a commitment to excellence, training, and operational integrity, setting a high standard for how UAS programs can support law enforcement, fire service, emergency management, and other public safety disciplines.
Named in honor of Officer Eric Talley, the award serves as a lasting tribute to leadership, service, and dedication to public safety excellence. Eric Talley’s legacy reflects the highest ideals of courage, professionalism, and selfless commitment to others. By bearing his name, the award not only commemorates that legacy but also challenges recipients to carry it forward, using emerging technology responsibly and effectively while upholding the values of service, integrity, and sacrifice that define the public safety community.
