As DroneUp’s Vice President, Safety & Compliance , Kristen implemented and currently manages DroneUp’s Safety and Flight Compliance departments, working closely with the flight operations and legal teams, keeping operations compliant with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Kristen also manages the company’s authorizations, waivers, and exemptions.
With over 15 years in the aviation industry, her career began as a flight instructor and stage check airman for a Part 141 University, working in aerial mapping as well. Kristen transitioned to the corporate aviation world, flying in Part 91 and Part 135 flight departments and worked as Operations Manager for a Part 135 charter company. She has her CFI, CFII, ATP, and Remote Pilot Certification.
Kristen serves on the NBAA Emerging Technologies Committee, represents DroneUp on the Drone Safety Team, and is a member of Women in Aviation, Int’l. With her husband serving in the military as an aviator, they both love sharing the world of aviation with their three daughters. Kristen grew up in a very small, rural town where girls didn’t necessarily have the resources to see what all they could do outside of the small community they lived in. She now does STEM outreach for youth, providing aviation industry awareness to help increase future female pilot numbers (currently less than 9% of all pilots are female).
