Skydio Ascend Live Replay

Adam Bry is co-founder and CEO at Skydio, the leading US drone company, and the world leader in autonomous flight. He has two decades of experience with small UAS, starting as a national champion R/C airplane aerobatics pilot. As a grad student at MIT, he did award winning research that pioneered autonomous flight for drones, transferring much of what he learned as an R/C pilot into software that enables drones to fly themselves. After graduating from MIT, Adam co-founded Google’s Project Wing. He has co-authored numerous technical papers and patents, and was also recognized on MIT’s TR35 list for young innovators. He currently serves on the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee.

Jason Regan is Vice President, System Inspections, for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). As System Inspections Vice President, Regan oversees PG&E's updated System Inspections Program which examines the distribution, transmission and substation equipment across the company's 70,000-square-mile service area. Regan's team is responsible for finding and fixing potential risks to the safety and reliability of the system. Regan, who joined PG&E in 1997, has served in a broad range of functional areas over the past two-plus decades, including roles in Safety, Gas Construction, Grid Operations, and Electric Transmission & Distribution Maintenance and Construction Operations. Most recently, Regan served as Senior Director of Electric System Inspections where he was responsible for ensuring the safe and compliant inspection of our electric transmission and distribution assets. Prior to that, Regan was Director of Electric Distribution System Operations & Emergency at PG&E, where he and his team oversaw the safe and reliable operation of approximately 107,000 miles of distribution lines, as well as the company's emergency preparedness program.

Bob Brock joined the Kansas Department of Transportation as the first State Director for Unmanned Aircraft Systems after a 22-year career in the Air Force. An instrument-rated commercial fixed-wing and helicopter instructor pilot, Bob started working with UAS in 2003, and later commanded the largest UAS Squadron in the Air Force. He is a native of Pittsburg, KS and alumnus of Pittsburg State and Texas Christian Universities. He likes cars, Thai food, and great coffee.

Chief John M. Chell joined the New York City Police Department in February 1994, and began his career on patrol in the 67 Precinct. He also served in the 46, 60, 61, 62, 67, 75 and 79 Precincts; the Narcotics Division, Narcotics Borough Brooklyn South, Patrol Borough, Brooklyn South, Detective Borough Brooklyn North, and Brooklyn South Auto Larceny. He was promoted to Detective in July 1999; Sergeant in May 2000; Lieutenant in February 2004; Lieutenant Commander Detective in February 2008; Captain in August 2010; Deputy Inspector in November 2014; and Inspector in October 2016. Chief Chell most recently served as the executive officer in the patrol Services Bureau, directly under Chief Maddrey. Previously, he served as the Commanding Officer of Detective Borough Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South, the 61, 75 and 79 Precincts, and the Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Specialized Units. He also served as Executive Officer of the 60 Precinct. A 2000 Medal for Valor recipient, Chief Chell earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s College.

Seasoned roboticist pushing the limits of visual navigation, 3D reconstruction, and real-time algorithms. Experience across drones, hexapods, robot arms, milli-scale robot swarms, and self-balancing motorcycles. BS from Princeton, MS from Stanford.

William "Fritz" Reber retired as a Police Captain after 27 years of service with Chula Vista Police Department. After his retirement he worked with public safety and service providers related to UAS operations. He (with Kabe Termes) was the visionary behind Drone as First Responder (DFR) Operations and Live911, author of CVPD's Concept of Operations IPP submission, and co-authored the CVPD BVLOS waiver. This was the first FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver for any public safety agency operating in an urban environment in the nation). He and his Skydio Team, in partnership with CVPD and the San Diego IPP Team wrote the safety case for and obtained the groundbreaking Tactical BVLOS waiver. This enabled Close Proximity, Low Altitude (CPLA) operations for Public Safety Agencies and others to safely fly BVLOS during ground based tactical deployments.

Fritz remains a part of the San Diego City IPP Team, is a DRONERESPONDERS Technical Expert (TEP), and he continues to work closely with CVPD and public safety agencies everywhere on the integration of Skydio 2 into everyday police operations. He is the visionary and co-inventor w/Higherground, of Live911.

Live911 is a revolutionary software tool that allows first responders to hear in real time the actual audio of the incoming 911 call. It has been integrated with RapidSOs and provides a map UI for first responders who can hear the call and see the exact caller location instantly while in the field. Never before has public safety had such real-time situational awareness sent to the front lines without any time delay or data decay.

Head of Public Safety Integration at Skydio:

Fritz works to show Public Safety Agencies the value of a drone that is designed not to crash. The transformational object avoidance technology of Skydio means that more people can utilize the power of a UAS to provide situational awareness and decision quality data to first responders in the field. The feedback and input he gets from end-users is used in product improvements and development with the goal to help make Skydio the best drone company in the world.

Jenn Player is Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Skydio. Jenn collaborates with customers, regulators, and standards development organizations to advance autonomy and unlock safe and effective docked drone operations. With over 10 years of experience in uncrewed aircraft systems research, testing, and operations, Jenn’s early work to integrate drones into the National Airspace System led to the first long-range BVLOS civil flight in the continental United States. Prior to joining Skydio, Jenn founded Avineer LLC, a consulting firm helping manufacturers navigate the type certification process and helping enterprises gain approvals for BVLOS, teleoperation, and other complex operations. Jenn participates in industry working groups on BVLOS operations, detect and avoid technology, remote ID, airworthiness, and autonomy. She recently served as an industry working group lead on the FAA’s UAS BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee. Jenn received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. She holds an FAA Remote Pilot certificate and a Private Pilot certificate with ratings in single-engine airplanes and gliders.