Dave Crago

A Little More About Me

Dave Crago is an internationally recognized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) SME for military, public safety and insurance industry UAS operations, specializing in law enforcement, firefighting, disaster response and damage assessment. Dave is currently the Managing Member and Lead Instructor for EMMU Aerial. He is the former UAS Program Manager and Branch Chief for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Aviation and UAS Program Manager for the U.S. State Department, Office of Aviation (DOS/OA).

Dave started developing his interest in aviation in 1985 where he was the Army Ground Liaison Officer to the Air Force for aviation operations. He continued refining his skills through extensive operational aerial photography, remote sensing and UAS surveillance work with the military and government agencies.

Dave used his extensive aviation knowledge and experience to develop and implement aerial imagery and UAS programs for the DOS/OA for US Embassies, Consulates and Bureau’s in locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia and Ukraine. He developed UAS flight imaging techniques and training for ISR, GEOINT programs, construction site progress and catastrophic damage assessments for U.S. government locations around the world.

Dave went on to develop the NNSA UAS and CUAS programs to integrate into the safe and secure ground transportation of nuclear materials nationwide and was granted the first nationwide waiver to fly in controlled airspace. In addition, he has assisted countless other agencies and organizations develop and implement their programs across the nation.

Dave is a FAA Safety Team Representative and Drone Pro.  While with the federal government, he sat on two subcommittees for the GSA, Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy for safety and UAS. He has been a speaker for major conferences such the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Army Aviation Association of America, Intelligence and National Security Summit, GEOINT Symposium, Counter-UAS Summit, and many other conferences, seminars and webinars.
 

He is an FAA Part 107 and federal government certified UAS pilot and trainer bringing extensive knowledge of FAA and other federal, state and local drone regulations and protocols to EMMU Aerial. Today under his leadership, EMMU Aerial provides public safety agencies and the insurance industry with specialized UAS training, services and consulting for search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting, disaster response, claims inspection, damage assessment and more.