Jdamage

FAA Part 107-certified FPV pilot and UAS test operator with 12+ years of hands-on experience in advanced manual flight, FPV racing, custom aircraft builds, UAS troubleshooting, mission execution, aerial data acquisition, and drone-event project management. Experienced with Betaflight, ArduPilot, Crossfire, ELRS, GPS-denied indoor flight, RF-dense operating environments, manual/assisted/autonomous control modes, and rapid test-repair-retest cycles. Former U.S.

Army UH-60 Black Hawk Aviation Logistics Mechanic with 6 years of aviation maintenance, technical inspections, readiness, logistics, and mission-support experience at Fort Campbell. Brings 23+ years of IT, networking, Linux, hardware, systems integration, and field troubleshooting experience.

Owner | FAA-Certified Remote Pilot | UAS Test and Flight Operator - Above All Drone Services - North Carolina and Nevada

• Plan and execute FPV, aerial imaging, mapping-data acquisition, construction progress, inspection, and real-estate missions using custom FPV aircraft and DJI platforms.
• Operate in manual, assisted, and autonomous modes; develop repeatable flight profiles, grid missions, routes, camera positions, and site-documentation workflows.
• Configure and troubleshoot Betaflight and ArduPilot aircraft, Crossfire and ELRS control links, FPV video systems, antennas, telemetry, cameras, payloads, flight controllers, ESCs, motors, and power systems.
• Build and modify FPV platforms using soldering, wiring, component integration, fabrication, 3D-printed parts, firmware configuration, and controlled test flights.
• Perform site surveys, airspace review, weather evaluation, risk assessment, preflight inspections, battery planning, mission execution, postflight inspections, and maintenance documentation.
• Diagnose intermittent signal, video, telemetry, vibration, overheating, power, motor, firmware, and mechanical faults; verify repairs through ground tests and return-to-flight evaluations.
• Collect geotagged imagery and structured mission data for photogrammetry, mapping-data, inspection, and construction progress workflows.
• Translate pilot observations, aircraft behavior, system limitations, and field failures into clear technical findings and corrective recommendations.

Lead RC Aircraft Pilot | Drone Operations Technician - Sphere Entertainment - Las Vegas, NV

(2025-01 - 2026-01)

• Operated and supported specialized multirotor, fixed-wing, dirigible, and custom remotely piloted aircraft in a complex GPS-denied indoor live-production environment.
• Executed precision manual flights, rehearsals, calibration flights, live-show missions, preflight checks, postflight inspections, maintenance evaluations, and rapid return-to-service actions.
• Supported multiple aircraft in shared airspace while maintaining separation, communication, situational awareness, operational discipline, and audience safety.
• Evaluated stability, control response, power delivery, RF/video performance, mechanical reliability, pilot workload, and operational risk; reported findings to technical and production stakeholders.
• Diagnosed connector, power, ESC, motor, cooling, structural, communications, and flight-control deficiencies and supported repair, modification, component replacement, and retesting.
• Worked directly with pilots, technicians, production teams, maintenance personnel, safety staff, and leadership during time-critical operations and rapid capability iteration.

FPV Racer | Project Manager | Technical Coordinator - FPV Drone Racing and Event Operations (IDR, DRL, Caesars Entertainment, MultiGP, Sky Zone) - Multiple Venues

(2014-01)

• Raced FPV drones for more than 12 years, developing advanced Acro-mode proficiency, high-speed obstacle navigation, precision maneuvering, rapid recovery, and aircraft setup skills.
• Project-managed multiple races and events associated with IDR, Drone Racing League (DRL), Caesars Entertainment, MultiGP, and Sky Zone-sponsored programs.
• Coordinated race planning, venue layouts, schedules, pilot activities, equipment, course validation, technical resources, safety requirements, and on-site execution.
• Tested courses and systems for RF interference, video-link degradation, flight-path hazards, component failures, pilot visibility, and operational risk.
• Performed field builds, soldering, wiring, configuration, troubleshooting, component replacement, and rapid repair/retest cycles under event time constraints.

UH-60 Black Hawk Aviation Logistics Mechanic, MOS 67T - United States Army - Fort Campbell, KY

• Maintained and supported UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters using Army technical manuals, inspection standards, maintenance procedures, safety controls, and mission-readiness requirements.
• Performed scheduled and unscheduled inspections, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, component replacement, discrepancy documentation, and return-to-service support.
• Managed aviation logistics, repair parts, tool accountability, inventory, maintenance scheduling, configuration records, and aircraft-readiness coordination.
• Worked with pilots, crew chiefs, quality-control personnel, maintainers, supervisors, logistics teams, and aviation leadership in high-accountability, time-sensitive environments.
• Applied disciplined risk management, procedural compliance, technical communication, and mission-focused decision-making to aircraft maintenance and operational support.