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Rich Gatanis

Co-Founder / Technical Trainer
Unmanned Tactical Group
wimauma, Florida, United States

Rich Gatanis began his career in 2003 as a Firefighter, EMT, and HazMat Technician with Southern Manatee Fire Rescue (SMFR) in Manatee County, Florida. He continues to serve in this role today. In 2015, Rich became the UAS Coordinator at SMFR, establishing an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program that has positioned SMFR as a leader in developing and implementing UAS response policies and best practices for hazardous materials and special operations. His innovative approach has led to the creation of specialized devices that enable drones to carry chemical, gas, and radiation detectors for real-time air monitoring using onboard camera systems.
Rich's passion for UAS in public safety led him to join the flymotion team in 2017. There, he collaborated with numerous public safety agencies across the nation to design drone programs and provide equipment. His expertise in policy, training, and UAS regulations has been instrumental in helping these agencies develop their own internal policies and protocols.
In 2020, Rich co-founded the Unmanned Tactical Group (UTG), a company that provides advanced UAS training for public safety, government, and defense customers. That same year, he became the UAS Team Lead at the Manatee County Search and Rescue Team (MC-SAR), a non-profit organization of current and former public safety professionals dedicated to community service. MC-SAR frequently assists local agencies with missing persons, water rescues, and other emergency operations.
In 2021, Rich played a key role in establishing the Florida Public Safety UAS Coordination Group (FLOGRU) under DRONERESPONDERS. This group facilitates collaboration between public safety agencies, industry, government, and academia in Florida, leveraging the combined expertise of AIRT and AUVSI members.
Rich also brought his extensive knowledge to Brinc Drones in 2021, a company that produces American-made tactical UAS designed to support special response teams in high-risk situations such as barricades, hostage scenarios, and active shooter incidents. Additionally, he began working with Skydio, a leading U.S. drone manufacturer, providing training and consulting services to public safety agencies developing UAS programs.
Throughout his career with SMFR, MC-SAR, Brinc Drones, Skydio, and FLOGRU, Rich has collaborated with industry leaders to advance UAS technology for public safety operations. His contributions have significantly promoted the development of purpose-built technology, and he has gained extensive experience in how this technology performs in challenging environments.




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