Chris Stiles

Operations Director - USA Drone Port

Has been involved with unmanned aircraft for 16 years in varying capacities, and has been a rated UAS flight instructor since 2005. He started flying medium-sized fixed-wing UAS in the Army, working in Military Intelligence and has subsequently spent 6 years overseas supporting counter-terrorism operations in the middle-east and counter-drug operations in Central America. With experience on over two dozen UAS systems varying in size from 0.5 – 3,000 lbs. and operating a variety of specialized payloads and sensors in every type of environment imaginable, there is very little that he hasn't done in the field. Chris has conducted 17,000+ flight hours supporting all sectors of the drone market from active duty service in the U.S. Army, as a defense contractor, academia, public/civil agency support, to commercial business sector operations. Mr. Stiles' UAS experience includes conducting flight instruction, maintenance & repair, piloting & sensor operations, system & sensor research & development (R&D), general government contracting as well as logistical, analysis, and programmatic support, technical writing, and safety & program development. He has also helped academic institutions develop training programs and conduct research with unmanned aircraft, has authored a multitude of technical publications and books, occasionally speaks at conferences, and actively promotes UAS education, adoption, as well as proper legislation for the technology. He has instructed and mentored thousands of students, to include teaching hundreds of students in FAA Part 107 test prep courses since early 2016.