Director, UAS Operations
Huntsville Police Department
Huntsville, Alabama
Chad Tillman is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience as a 3D analyst in the DoD Targets Management Program at SAIC. Additionally, he has dedicated 16 years as an EMT with Huntsville Madison County Rescue, where he initiated a drone program for the squad seven years ago. Chad played a key role in establishing the North Alabama UAS Working Group and founded the Unmanned Aerial Systems Information and Analysis Organization (501c6) to assist agencies in implementing UAS programs.
For the past four years, Chad has collaborated with the Huntsville Police Department (HPD) to develop a UAS program. He designed a patrol-based initiative that equips HPD patrol vehicles with UAS units, ensuring coverage during all shifts and precincts. In their inaugural year, they completed nearly 400 flights with six pilots. Presently, the program has expanded significantly, boasting 30 pilots who have successfully executed over 6,500 flights, accumulated 3,700 hours and covered 3,500 miles. Their monthly flight average this year stands at 200, with an impressive response time of under 5 minutes.
The UAS operations seamlessly integrate with various HPD units, including Bomb, SWAT, STAC, and K-9. Currently, Chad and his team are actively planning a Disaster Response (DR) program to augment their existing initiatives and further improve response times across public safety agencies.
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Maximize Your Minutes: Drones as a First Responder
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM