Eric Smidt is the UAS Operations Officer supporting day-to-day range operations, flight test and frequency coordination, all while ensuring operations comply with organizational requirements and safety procedures.

Eric brings deep operational experience in unmanned systems, with a background spanning military UAS operations, flight testing, and training. He was first trained by the U.S. Army in 2008 on RQ-7B Shadow operations and went on to serve as a Standardization Operator and instructor for the Idaho Army National Guard. He later worked with BAE Systems supporting flight testing, technical manual development, and
training curriculum for UAS programs.

Deploying to Iraq in 2010, he oversaw training, safety, and operations across multiple sites. In 2011, he became the Standardization Officer for the Oregon Army National Guard’s unmanned systems program, where he played a key role in securing the FAA’s first Certificate of Authorization for large UAS flights at Pendleton Airport, helping lay the groundwork for the Pendleton UAS Range.