Rich Gatanis began his public safety career in 2003 as a Firefighter, EMT, and HazMat Technician with Southern Manatee Fire Rescue (SMFR) in Manatee County, Florida, where he continues to serve today. In 2015, he launched SMFR’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program, developing policies and specialized tools that integrate air monitoring sensors with drones, positioning SMFR as a leader in UAS operations for hazmat and special ops. Rich’s expertise led him to join a small drone company called flymotion in 2017, where he supported public safety agencies nationwide in building drone programs and creating UAS policies and training frameworks. In 2020, he co-founded the Unmanned Tactical Group (UTG), which provides advanced UAS training for public safety, government, and defense organizations. In 2021, he helped establish the Florida Public Safety UAS Coordination Group (FLOGRU) under DRONERESPONDERS to enhance collaboration between agencies, industry, and academia. That same year, he also brought his expertise to Brinc Drones and Skydio, contributing to training and consulting efforts focused on tactical drone operations in complex environments. In 2024, Rich helped form the UAS unit within Manatee County Technical Rescue Team (TRT-644), a deployable state and federal asset for large-scale incidents. He also became President of the Tampa Satellite Chapter of AUVSI, supporting innovation and coordination in unmanned systems across the region. Throughout his career, Rich has worked closely with public safety leaders and technology partners to push the boundaries of UAS applications in emergency response, with a focus on real-world performance and mission-specific solutions.