In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett sits down with Chad Tavernia, a retired New York State Police investigator who has transformed his passion for helping others into a high-tech pet recovery business. As the founder of North Country Drone Search and Recovery, Chad uses thermal imaging drones to locate lost pets—an emotionally powerful service that has earned him a 40% success rate and a growing reputation in his community. Starting with a Phantom 4 Pro back in 2015 an...
Jul 03, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Host Joe Burgett is joined by JT VonLunen, President of Rocky Mountain Unmanned Solutions, for a timely conversation about the evolving drone landscape in light of the Defense Reauthorization Act. Joe outlines the potential implications of a ban on Chinese-made drones like DJI and Altel, urging agencies and drone users to start thinking proactively about alternatives, even as the policy awaits legal scrutiny. JT brings deep industry knowledge to the discussion, shedding light on how these legisl...
Jun 19, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett sits down with Sean Falconer, Managing Director of Volatus Drones, to unpack the implications of tariffs and potential bans on DJI and other Chinese-made drones. With public agencies and entrepreneurs facing growing uncertainty, the conversation explores viable, non-Chinese drone alternatives and what decision-makers need to consider before making the switch. Sean shares insights into sensor specifications critical for mapping and ph...
Jun 12, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett welcomes retired Army Colonel and Blue Nose franchise owner Matt Stacker for an insightful conversation about entrepreneurship in the drone industry. Matt shares his journey from a distinguished 33-year military career to entering the drone service business. He explains how he founded Jigsaw Innovations as an LLC in eastern Missouri before joining the Blue Nose franchise network. He outlines the franchise opportunity as a “business i...
Jun 05, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Host Joe Burgett welcomes Ethan Miller, a retired UAS Navy veteran, owner of Sea Dragon Drones, and franchise owner with Blue Nose Aerial Imaging. Ethan shares his inspiring transition from military service to entrepreneurship in the drone industry. He reflects on the early challenges of civilian life, including stints in trucking and logistics, and how his discovery of drone mapping and orthomosaic technology reignited his passion for aviation. Through the support of the Blue Nose franchise mod...
May 22, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, host Joe Burgett welcomes Ben Fowler, founder, and CEO of PARKS360, to discuss how drone technology is transforming outdoor recreation research and asset assessment. Ben shares how he utilizes 360-degree panoramic imagery mapping to support natural resource management and improve park infrastructure. Ben also dives into his background in outdoor guiding, his academic journey, and his experiences traveling across the U.S. while running his drone business. He recounts his entry in...
May 08, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett welcomes Matt Domas from Fly Guys, a leading drone service provider. Founded in 2018, Fly Guys operates nationally and internationally, leveraging a network of in-house and contracted pilots. Matt shares insights into the drone industry, discussing the key qualifications for pilots and drone ownership. He highlights the most common mission types, such as photogrammetry and thermography, and emphasizes the importance of having reliabl...
Apr 24, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, host Joe Burgett from Clemson University sits down with Tanner Harris of Blue Nose Aerial Imaging to explore the expansion of the Clemson drone program and the exciting opportunities available through Blue Nose’s franchise model. Clemson’s drone program has grown significantly since the end of Season 1 of the podcast, now including veterans under Chapter 31 and launching an eight-week online course, UAS Mission Administration, tailored for experienced pilots and program managers...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this special solo episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, Dr. Joe Burgett dives deep into the essentials of crafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for drone operations. With his fresh insights from developing a custom course and training AI bots, Dr. Burgett outlines six critical components for SOPs: Management Systems, Operations, Training, Maintenance, Safety Management Systems, and additional key considerations. Drone operations of all sizes, big and small, require SOPs to ensure safe...
Jun 06, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this compelling episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, we delve into the innovative world of law enforcement drone programs with Bill McMurrer and Ryan Reid from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. With decades of combined experience, they shed light on transforming a traditional law enforcement approach into a cutting-edge UAS initiative. From initial challenges to building a robust program, McMurrer and Reid discuss the strategic utilization of drones for various operations, including se...
May 23, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode of The Clemson Drone Podcast, host Dr. Joe Burgett chats with Tanner Harris, the visionary behind Blue Nose Aerial Imaging. Tanner shares insights from his extensive background in aviation, including his time with the United States Navy and United Airlines, and delves into how these experiences fueled his passion for standardizing and elevating the drone service sector through his innovative franchise model. The conversation provides a unique perspective on how military disciplin...
May 09, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode of Clemson Drone, host Joe Burgett is joined by Tyler Mills, a seasoned civil engineer and design project manager at HW Lochner. Tyler, with over 11 years of expertise in transportation engineering, shares his journey from personal drone enthusiast to leading the establishment of Lochner's successful internal drone pilot network. The conversation delves into the evolution of Lochner's drone program, from a small group of individuals using personal equipment to a comprehensive and...
Apr 25, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett sits down with Eric Harkins, a seasoned professional with nearly a decade of experience in the drone industry and CEO of Back Forty Aerial Solutions. The conversation delves into the world of remote sensing services, focusing on thermal, photogrammetry, and lidar technologies. Eric shares insights into the evolution of the drone industry, the challenges of educating clients about the value of drone services, and the distinct advantag...
Apr 11, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, we sit down with Alex Willis, a key player at ECS, a nationwide company specializing in geotechnical, environmental, and facility services. Alex, an expert in utilizing drones for geotechnical applications, takes us on a journey from the inception of ECS's drone project to its evolution into an integral part of their operations. From overcoming initial resistance to the strategic implementation of drone technology, Alex shares insights into the trans...
Mar 28, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode, Joe Burgett dives into the world of drone technology with Chad Frerer, founder of Autonomous Imagery of Mississippi (AIM). Chad, an experienced professional with a background in IT and information security, shares insights into the dynamic drone industry, focusing on several applications. The conversation covers AIM's services, including photogrammetry, precision point clouds, and the fascinating world of 3D reconstructions. Chad also reveals the diverse applications of drone te...
Mar 14, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett sits down with Chris Harris, a seasoned professional from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Chris shares his journey from a background in Civil Engineering to becoming a licensed professional engineer specializing in UAS technology and 3D project visualization. The discussion spans Chris's experiences with various DOTs, his role in founding an engineering automation group, and the evolution of drone technology within OD...
Feb 29, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, host Joe Burgett engages in a captivating conversation with Darryl Jones, the Forest Protection Chief at the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Darryl shares insights into his extensive role, covering wildfire suppression, emergency response, law enforcement, and forestry assistance. The episode delves into the evolution of drone usage in forestry management, showcasing its pivotal role in wildfire prevention and controlled burns. Darryl explains how drones equipped with advanc...
Feb 15, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Joe Burgett dives into the world of drone technology with a special guest, David Gallagher, Flight Operations Manager for the Ohio Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center. David shares insights into the evolution of the drone industry over the past decade, emphasizing the transformative impact of changing regulations. The discussion unfolds to reveal the critical role drones play in various sectors, from construction monitoring and bridge inspect...
Feb 15, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Join Dr. Joe Burgett in this episode of "Clemson Drone" as he engages in a compelling conversation with Mark Jahnke, the Chief Technology Officer of South Carolina ETV (SCETV). Mark shares insights into the transformative impact of drones on tower inspections, highlighting their role in enhancing efficiency and safety. The discussion explores SCETV's mission in broadcasting PBS and NPR, its involvement in emergency communications, and the challenges of manual tower inspections. Mark provides a g...
Feb 15, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Episode Notes In this inaugural episode of the Clemson Drone Podcast, host Dr. Joe Burgett from Clemson University engages in a compelling conversation with two industry experts from Duke Energy—Jackson Rollins, the director of the unmanned aerial system, and Garrett Scott, the chief pilot. Duke Energy, a major utility company in the Southeast, services millions of customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, utilizing a diverse energy portfolio. Jackson Rollins sheds light on D...
Feb 15, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
I'm excited to host a dynamic 20 to 40-minute interviews with prominent figures in the drone community! These interviews will feature leaders from public agencies, innovative private companies, and visionary entrepreneurs. The goal is to ignite the drone community's passion by sharing inspiring success stories! 🚀💡 — Contact Dr Joe Burgett | Clemson Drone: ClemsonDrone.com Facebook: Clemson Drone LinkedIn: Clemson Drone Instagram: Clemson Drone Course...
Dec 04, 2023•49 sec
