Instructor Cadre
Every Forge and Flight Academy instructor is an FAA-certified Remote Pilot with documented operational experience. Our instructors are selected for three qualities: technical depth, real-world background, and the ability to teach under operational conditions — not classroom conditions.
We do not hire instructors who have only academic credentials. Every member of our cadre has deployed, operated in degraded environments, or sustained UAS capability under real constraints.
Instructor Selection Standards
All Academy instructors must meet minimum qualifications before assignment to any course:
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (current)
- Minimum 200 logged flight hours on relevant platform class
- Documented operational or professional UAS employment history
- Background screening compatible with DoD facility access
- Completion of internal instructor qualification course
Lead Instructor
Mike
Founder | Lead UAS Operations & Autonomy Instructor
Mike is a retired U.S. Army Special Operations veteran with 21 years of service. His operational background spans 12 deployments across tactical and strategic environments, embassy postings in South America, and work with U.S. Ambassadors on regional policy and counterterrorism operations.
Education & Credentials:
- B.S. Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (minor: Space Physics)
- A.S. Business Administration, Columbia Southern University
- Commercial Pilot License
- FCC Technician License
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot
- Fluent Spanish
Technical Background:
- UAS platform design, fabrication, and integration
- RF systems and spectrum management
- Autonomy and AI systems integration
- Python development and automation
- Custom device fabrication and programming
Instruction Focus: UAS operations, autonomy systems, mission planning, NDAA compliance, tactical integration, and operator self-sufficiency doctrine. All courses integrating operational lessons from current conflict environments (Ukraine, SOCOM requirements) are designed and led by Mike.
Instructor Qualifications Framework
The following table describes qualification tiers for Academy instructors across course domains:
| Course Domain | Required Cert | Min Flight Hours | Operational Background Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-Wing Operations (FFF series) | Part 107 | 200 hrs fixed-wing | Commercial or military fixed-wing ops |
| Regulatory & Airspace (FFR series) | Part 107 | 100 hrs any platform | Commercial operations or FAA interaction |
| Fabrication & Assembly (FFA series) | Part 107 | 100 hrs any platform | UAS build/sustainment experience |
| Autonomy & AI Systems | Part 107 | 200 hrs + AI platform exp. | R&D, defense, or advanced research background |
| DoD / SOF-Specific Courses | Part 107 + clearance-eligible | 300 hrs | Active duty or SOF-adjacent operational history |
Guest Instructors & Subject Matter Experts
For specialized course topics, the Academy brings in vetted Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with domain-specific credentials. SME areas currently include:
- FAA Regulatory Compliance — former FAA aviation safety inspectors and designated examiners
- Spectrum Management — FCC-licensed operators with DoD RF coordination experience
- NDAA Supply Chain — procurement and compliance specialists with defense contracting background
- Autonomous Systems — researchers and engineers with ArduPilot, PX4, and NVIDIA Jetson deployment history
SME instructors are disclosed to students prior to the relevant course sessions. All SMEs are vetted against Academy instructor standards prior to engagement.
Instructor Development
The Academy runs an internal Instructor Qualification Course (IQC) for cadre development. Graduates of the Forge and Flight Mentorship Program who meet operational experience requirements are eligible to apply for the IQC. This pipeline is the primary mechanism for growing the instructor cadre as the Academy scales.
For information on the instructor development pathway, contact us at [email protected].
Teaching Philosophy
Forge and Flight Academy instruction is built on one principle: operators need to be able to sustain and employ their systems without external support.
Every course is designed to create self-sufficient operators — not certificate holders. That means:
- Field sustainment and organic repair are taught alongside flight operations
- Students work on real platforms, not simulators alone
- Failure modes and degraded-environment procedures are mandatory course content
- DoD and SOF-specific scenarios are integrated into applicable courses, not treated as add-ons
This approach is grounded in operational feedback from current conflict environments and aligned with SOCOM capability development requirements.