Meet our expert UAV flight instructors
Unmanned Vehicle University has combined a team of expert certified UAV flight instructors to bring you the best training in the industry. All of our flight instructors are capable of leading you from being a novice to an advanced user of UAVs.
Check out each UAV flight instructor’s bio below to learn more about them. Our instructors come from different backgrounds and each brings his/her unique experiences to your training program!
Gene Payson Bio
Gene holds a BSME. He has over 45 years of engineering, piloting, and instructing experience with small UAVs. He is president and chief pilot of a sUAS company involved in manufacturing custom sUAS and providing sUAS services to various industries.
Gene is also currently employed as a USAF certified sUAS pilot for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory operating from Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio as a civilian contractor. Gene operates a variety of gas and electric powered aircraft in research endeavors.
Gene has worldwide training experience with fire, law enforcement, oil & gas, power utilities, search & rescue, anti-poaching, GIS, mining, precision agriculture, and more. He is familiar with various sensors such as EO, IR, Lidar, Precision Agriculture NDVI, Radar, and Sonar. Training is tailored to specific customer requirements.
Gene trains in his mobile command & control vehicle. Students operate from the comfort of an air conditioned truck equipped with long range antennas, large video monitors, and gas powered generator with 24/7 operational capabilities used for disaster response. Training includes how to outfit a mobile command & control unit for any purpose.
Gene has a dozen operational sUAS which are modified for specific operations. Many are equipped with autopilots for fully autonomous flights. You program the mission and the sUAS flies it automatically. Using the right UAV and the right sensor for the job is paramount to successful operations.
Post flight data processing using various desktop and online processors is discussed. Training is as in depth as time and your skills allow.
Martin Bedding Bio
Before emigrating to the United States from England two years ago, Mr. Bedding was a member of the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) for 35 years, where he served on the BMFA Council for six years, working on improvements and safety issues. In fact, he was instrumental in negotiating and establishing the IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic Club) competitions – establishing a new event for the BMFA National Championships. For those seeking to take their skills as an R/C pilot to a different level, the establishment of this club represented a major step forward. IMAC is now a recognized specialist body by the BMFA.
Martin Bedding is also a highly regarded display pilot who choreographs flying to music. He has served as Contest Director, Chairman, and Judge for IMAC at the British Nationals for seven years. He was also the Chief Judge for two years. In England, he owned Aviation Technics for 16 years, followed by XEL Model Flying Services for four years. He has designed and produced model kits that are sold throughout the world,
He had exclusive rights for the Raven, a U.S. airshow plane built by Wayne Handley. He has authored many model magazine articles and written reviews on products that became available to R/C hobbyists. He has gained the knowledge it takes to understand what makes an aircraft fly well and what it takes for a pilot and his/her aircraft to excel in this fun but sometimes challenging sport.
Martin Bedding currently owns and operates Big Blue Sky R/C. He continues to build models and small UAVs and also repairs engines on all types of small UAVs including multi-rotor machines. He teaches flying, model building, and repair to anyone wishing to further their skills.
Michael Ferguson Bio
Andrew Goldberg Bio
UAS: 1500hrs Flight time. Flew the RQ-7b (Shadow) from AAI Corp. Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for 1.5yrs. Flew many missions for all branches of the military. Experience as the AO/PO/MC (Aircraft operator / Payload operator / Mission Commander)
Education: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Bachelors of Science / Aeronautical Science
Scott Strimple Bio
Skip Fredricks Bio
Always a technology innovator, in 2012, Skip was the first 2nd Unit Director on a recent Sci-fi film to shoot aerial cinematography using a drone, the DJI Phantom 1. Since that “close encounter,” Skip has been utilizing UAV technology to supplement his camera work in the film/TV industry. He is both, a proficient drone pilot and a cutting edge videographer.
Currently, his passion is teaching others how to fly drones as a test pilot and flight trainer at the Unmanned Aerial University while maximizing their use of video technology. The goal is creating compelling content for all media platforms from film to TV to the internet using drones.
Skip Fredricks is now the Program Director for Drone TV.
Steven Durecki | Flight Instructor
I have been a model enthusiast for over 35 years, flying airplanes, helicopters, and now multi-copters. I have belonged to many radio control clubs and I train individuals on the setup, maintenance, and flying of multi-copters. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science with a major in Electronic Engineering and I am a FAA Certifield sUAS Pilot.
I have been flying multi-copters for over 5 years and am the President of Great Lakes Aerial Video Services, which films videos for real estate, channel 4 news, production companies, weddings, short films, marathons, motor cross, car shows, police and fire, and much more. I am also an instructor for a class on Multi-copters at a Major University.
I am extremely knowledgeable in all of the fields of multi-copters and believe that they are a big part of our future.
Matthew Lavin | Flight Instructor
He is noted as one of America’s vital pioneers of the aerial movement and dove into alternate (drone) aerial options far before it’s time.
Now an Aerial DP, UAV Pilot, Drone Air Boss and Consultant, Matthew was inducted into the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG), Local 600, for his irreplaceable efforts in aerial cinema technology and “on set production protocols”. He was Chancellor of The Monterey Bay UAV Flight School for Cinematography and developed specific training for this niche industry.
Matthew is at the top echelon of aerial cinematographers and his credits include numerous commercials, feature films, major sport/event coverage & executing the first live aerial broadcast for MLB. His company, Aerography out of the Bay Area, holds both the 3/3/3 FAA Exemption and Part 107 UAS License and is paving the way for safe, creative, compelling, compliant aerial cinematography.
Rob Hannaford | Flight Instructor
Robert is proficient in many programming languages and multiple IDE’s. Robert also has a strong background in mechanical engineering and design having run the family’s Plastic Injection Molding and Tool & Die Making business in the early ’90’s.
Robert’s expertise in the ever-changing technology systems industry is represented by certifications from Microsoft, Adobe and a Degree from Unmanned Vehicle University in Arizona. He also holds an RPL license with an Instructors rating on Fixed Wing, Multirotor and Helicopter platforms and was the first pilot to conduct legal BVLOS RPAS flights in Southern Africa. His current interests are in Unmanned Vehicle Technologies and robotics, recently together with partners Otto Werdmuller & George Sayegh he co-founded UAV & Drone Solutions (Pty) Ltd specializing in unmanned airborne solutions and technologies, the company was the first to receive an only ROC to receive BVLOS accreditation allowing for night flights in controlled airspace. Initially UDS flew tactical missions in support of counter Rhino & Elephant Poaching in various African countries and game parks, during this period some 17 000 mission hours have been flown, due to the level of success achieved a natural progression into security related work began and tactical air support in controlled airspace is now been acquired by many South African companies and government agencies with huge success.
Robert has been the mastermind behind the design, building and integration of the current aircraft platforms, this includes the use of composite technologies, custom electronics and custom 3 axis gimbal systems.
Robert is still actively involved in UDS South Africa and has recently relocated to Austin, TX to start a sister company UDS System LLC.
Robert is widely respected as an expert in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and has been called upon to present at ICAO, JARUS and Interdrone.
