From Utility Drones to Space: The Future of Autonomous Operations

Q1:  What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about drones in the last year? 

Pete: The biggest thing is that people want to jump straight into complex missions, but they skip the fundamentals. If you cannot consistently execute the simple tasks, there is no way you will succeed at the advanced ones. It is just like any other field; you have to build that foundation first. Once you master the basics, then you can start layering in complexity and actually see success. 

Q2:  How did you get into the drone industry? 

Pete: I started out playing with RC cars and airplanes when I was a kid, just naturally drawn to that kind of technology. I joined the Air Force and during one of my deployments I got reintroduced to it in a more serious way. From there, I stayed in the military longer than expected and eventually transitioned into the UAV space. Over time I worked with startups and different organizations, building experience that led me into robotics and drone program management.

Q3:  How do you identify and prioritize drone use cases at NYPA? 

Pete:  We look at it from a very practical standpoint. First, does it make someone’s day to day job easier or more efficient. Second, can it be repeated and scaled. If I can fly a mission once, save it, and then run it again consistently, that is where the real value comes in. Even when a use case does not work, we still treat it as a win because it shows us where the breakdown happened, whether that is in data capture, processing, or training. That process helps us refine and improve over time. 

Q4:  How do you balance safety, compliance, and innovation? 

Pete: Safety is always the top priority, no exceptions. Our mindset is to risk the machine, not the person. Equipment can be replaced, people cannot. If something introduces risk to our employees, it is not worth pursuing no matter how efficient it might seem. Innovation is important, but it has to exist within a framework where safety is never compromised. That is the foundation for everything we do.

Q5:  How do you build and lead cross-functional teams using drones? 

Q6:  What’s your vision for the future of drones? 

Pete: I want to see drones go beyond what we are doing today and move into space applications. Imagine drones flying in orbit, capturing satellites, performing repairs, and cleaning up space debris. There is so much potential there and it feels like a natural next step as the technology continues to evolve. It is that kind of forward thinking that really shows how far this industry can go.

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