Our Team

With decades of experience as an entrepreneur in global business development, Kim is focused on the intersection of aviation, advanced technology and economic growth. She is recognized for her expertise in international distribution, public-private partnerships and government affairs. She also serves as Chair of the Aerospace Advisory Board of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the oldest and largest aeronautical university in the world.

Tony Demolina leads the UAS Center at SBD's drone pilot training programs. With decades of Army service as well as over 30 years in law enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department, Tony continues to serve LAPD as their Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Subject Matter Expert. His expertise extends to also counter-drone operations. He served as Technical Advisor to the City of Los Angeles for the development of their UAS regulatory ordinance. Tony holds multiple FAA ratings for piloting of both manned and unmanned aircraft.

Dave Krause is a software architect and co-owner of Influential Drones, a partner of the UAS Center at SBD. Influential Drones is an industry member of the FAA Safety Team and a collaboration partner supporting response-robot standardized test methods recognized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dave serves as an instructor and Chief Pilot, leading BVLOS operations and Part 137 agricultural missions. He contributes to aviation working groups and rulemaking efforts. Dave brings a systems-level perspective to uncrewed aviation, spanning quality assurance, hardware and software development lifecycles, and the evaluation of autonomy-enabled technologies for public safety, academic, commercial, and government applications.

Internationally renowned in the UAS industry, Terry has extensive experience in both private sector and the military. He developed and successfully commercialized groundbreaking UAS technology under Straight Up Imaging, a US-based commercial-use drone design and engineering firm which he founded and later sold. During his 22-year career in the Army and Air Force he demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the realm of drone use and integration. He served as a commander of multiple military aviation UAS units and continues to contribute significantly to the advancement and integration of aerial robotics in the Department of Defense and public sector environments.

Jason serves as a first responder with Washington State Search and Rescue (SAR). He is the Lead Drone Pilot for Okanogan County, the largest county in Washington. Jason has an extensive background in fire aviation and SAR. He flies drones weekly and regularly consults drone manufacturers and software providers. His knowledge spans the full range of drone technology, including RC/drone platforms, fixed wing micro to large scale, STOL, powered gliders, 3D, FPV and various types of multirotor drones. Prior to retiring from the US Forest Service, Jason served as a wildland firefighter for over three decades. He began his career at age seventeen in California with the Riverside County Fire Department. He became an aerial-delivered firefighter in 1993 with a helitack crew, and in 1999 became a smokejumper. As an aerial-delivered firefighter, Jason fought fires in Alaska, Florida and nearly everywhere in between. He proudly serves as a volunteer member of the FAA Safety Team (FAAST). Jason is the author of the book Smokejumper and is a featured speaker on TedTalks.

With decades of aerospace maintenance experience, most recently in his role as Vice President of Unical, Dave is an accomplished aviation executive with a successful track record of leadership at maintenance and repair operations (MROs) as well as airlines. Dave has extensive knowledge of FAA maintenance and repair regulations and protocols for conventional aircraft. He now brings this expertise to the UAS Center at SBD as we undertake significant innovation in the arena of UAS maintenance and repair operations.

David serves as the liaison between the UAS Center at SBD and the SBD Airport Operations team and is responsible for coordination of drone flight operations for research and development, demonstration and training purposes. As an SBD Airport Operations Officer David is actively engaged in the use and integration of drones into the airport environment, including UTM, runway and solar panel inspection, perimeter security monitoring and other applications.