The Expertise Behind
Your Program.
Red Raven was founded to provide both the strategic guidance to build your UAS program and the field-tested training to make it successful.
OUR MISSION.
We're here to help teams launch and grow UAS programs that are safe, effective, and built to last. Whether you're flying over city streets, wildland fires, or critical infrastructure, we're committed to making sure you're trained, equipped, and ready.
Founded by a
Public Safety Veteran
Our founder, Derrick Ward, is a 35 year veteran of the fire service who pioneered the use of UAS in public safety. As a certified fire instructor and one of the early adopters of drone technology for emergency response, he saw firsthand how this technology could save lives and improve outcomes. After leading and developing one of the nation's premier public safety UAS programs, he created Red Raven to share that field-tested knowledge with others. Our curriculum isn't based on theory; it's built on the lessons learned from decades of real-world experience.
WHAT WE STAND FOR.
We believe technology, used with skill and judgment, saves time, money, and lives. We’ve seen drones turn small teams into force multipliers and transform how missions are planned, executed, and documented. Red Raven exists to help agencies and enterprises harness that power responsibly for the public good.
Real-World
Training
Our instruction mirrors the pressures of real-world operations. We focus on practical, scenario-based training to build the muscle memory and sound decision-making skills that teams need to perform when it matters most.
Unbiased
Guidance
Our consulting is vendor-neutral and tailored to your specific goals, risk profile, and budget. We don’t sell hardware or take commissions, so our only objective is to build the most effective program for you.
Culture of
Safety
Safety and compliance are non-negotiable. We embed FAA standards and airtight SOPs into every program we touch, ensuring your operations are not just effective, but also defensible and audit-ready.
OUR
LEADERSHIP
Decades of frontline public safety, brand, and solution experience. This is the team that builds your program.
DERRICK
WARD
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Founder
Derrick brings 35 years of high-stakes, real-world public safety experience to Red Raven. As a pioneer of one of the nation’s largest fire department UAS programs, he has seen firsthand what it takes to succeed under pressure. As Program Director, he leads program development—building SOPs, policy, and operational standards that keep teams safe, compliant, and ready for any mission.
MICHAEL
WILSON
DIRECTOR OF BRAND
Founder
Michael brings years of high-level branding and media expertise from inside the enterprise drone industry, where he partnered with leading manufacturers to bring their technology to market. At Red Raven, he leads strategic consulting, helping build education and training programs and creating clear communications between agencies and our team to ensure long-term, scalable success.
Marc
Flamm
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Training & Deployment
Marc brings over a decade of UAS experience supporting some of the nation’s largest public safety and enterprise drone programs through DJI, Skydio, and Enterprise UAS. At Red Raven, he leads hands-on training—translating proven workflows into practical flight skills, mission execution, and real-world decision-making. His focus is training the most effective pilots starting from day one.
Let’s Get Your Team Mission-Ready
Now that you know our story, we'd like to hear yours. Let's discuss your organization's goals and how our experience can help you succeed.